What is the cause of dental caries?

At present, as people now improve the living standards, eat more types of things, but also more messy, and dental problems have come. One of the most important questions is dental caries. Now there are a lot of people suffering from dental caries, from children to adults, that in the end what is the cause of it? Let's look at the expert's explanation.
The currently recognized theory of dental caries etiology is a quadruple factor theory, mainly including bacteria, oral environment, host and time, the basic point is: caries-eating foods (especially sucrose and refined carbohydrates) in sugar, tightly attached to The surface of the tooth surface formed by the saliva protein is not only firmly attached to the tooth surface in this anatomical structure and biochemical and biophysical characteristics of the tooth surface, but also at a suitable temperature for a sufficient time Plaque deep acid, erosion of teeth, so that demineralization, and thus damage the organic matter, resulting in cavities.

1. bacteria
Is a necessary condition for the occurrence of dental caries, generally believed that there are two types of cariogenic bacteria, one is the production of bacteria, mainly Streptococcus mutans, actinomycetes and Lactobacillus, carbohydrate decomposition can produce acid, resulting in Tooth non-organic demineralization; the other is a Gram-positive cocci, can damage organic matter, after a long period of time can make teeth formation cavities. Currently recognized as the main cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans, the other also includes actinomycetes, Lactobacillus and so on.
Bacteria are mainly attached to the tooth surface with plaque. Stopped food in the carbohydrate degradation, on the one hand polymerization to produce high viscosity dextran, the formation of plaque matrix, on the other hand acid to demineralize the teeth, plaque composition is more complex, in addition to a large number of bacteria, Sugar, protein, enzymes and other substances.
2. Oral environment
Oral cavity is the outer environment of the teeth, and the occurrence of dental caries disease is closely related to, which play a leading role in food and saliva.
(1) food is mainly carbohydrates, both with the formation of plaque matrix, but also plaque bacteria in the main energy, bacteria can use carbohydrates (especially sucrose) metabolism of acid, and synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides and intracellular polysaccharide , The organic acid produced is conducive to the growth of acid and acid bacteria, but also conducive to the hardening of the hard tissue of the teeth, polysaccharides can promote the adhesion and accumulation of bacteria in the tooth surface, and in the absence of exogenous sugar, to provide energy source. Therefore, carbohydrates are the basis of the occurrence of dental caries.
(2) saliva in the normal circumstances, saliva has the following effects:
A mechanical cleaning to reduce the accumulation of bacteria.
B antibacterial effect of direct antibacterial or inhibition of plaque attached to the tooth surface, to prevent the occurrence of dental caries.
C anti-acid effect by the heavy bicarbonate and other substances from the role of neutralization.
D anti-soluble role through the calcium, phosphorus, fluoride and other teeth to enhance acid resistance, reduce the solubility.
The amount and quality of saliva fluid changes, can affect the caries rate, clinically visible, dry mouth or saliva secretion in patients with caries rate increased significantly. The maxillofacial radiotherapy may be due to the destruction of the salivary glands and the presence of multiple dental caries. On the other hand, when the amount of lactic acid in the saliva is increased or the bicarbonate content is reduced, it is also beneficial to the occurrence of dental caries.
3. host
Teeth is the target organ during the process of dental caries. The shape of the tooth, the degree of mineralization and the structure of the tooth are directly related to the occurrence of dental caries, such as the fissure of the teeth and the poorly conceived teeth, and the degree of mineralization The structure of the teeth and the body is closely related, especially in the development, not only affect the development and structure of the teeth, but also on the saliva flow, the amount of fluoride, Flow rate and its composition also has a great impact, and therefore is an important part of the occurrence of dental caries.
Time
The occurrence of dental caries has a long process, from the initial caries to the clinical formation of cavities generally need 1.5 to 2 years, so even if the cariogenic bacteria, the appropriate environment and susceptible host coexistence, dental caries disease will not occur immediately, Only the above three factors exist for a long time, it may produce caries, so the time factor in the occurrence of dental caries is of great significance.
Although the number of people suffering from dental caries every year showed an increasing trend, but the dental caries did not cause enough attention, there have been reports that seventy percent of the sick did not go to the hospital to do the check, to remind We must go to the hospital as soon as possible, so as to avoid serious consequences.