Dental caries is often equated to “just a hole in the tooth,” but it is actually a dynamic disease; biofilm-mediated and multifactorial in nature, requiring time to progress. It is demineralization of tooth structure by acid produced when cariogenic bacterias, mainly Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. metabolize dietary sugars.
That said, caries is not merely sugar. It is about balance between demineralization and remineralization. When the oral environment remains acidic for a long duration, there will be no remineralization, and the lesion will grow.
In general, these are the most important risk factors:
-Poor oral hygiene (plaque accumulation)
-Frequent intake of fermentable carbohydrates
-Low salivary flow (xerostomia)
-Lack of fluoride exposure
-Socioeconomic and behavioral factors
The modern dental perspective no longer views caries as an event that leads to permanent destruction of teeth. With proper use of fluoride therapies, dietary changes and non-invasive measures, arresting or even reversing early carious lesions is possible.