Understanding dental caries – What causes cavities?
A. Cavities or caries are holes in teeth that are caused by a group of germs. The most serious bacteria in this group is called mutans streptococcus. These groups of bacteria feed on sugar that is introduced to the mouth by dietary intake. Higher sugar intake means more bacteria. What makes these types of germs damaging is that they produce acid that eats away at the structure of teeth by depleting the calcium in the tooth. They also create plaque, which is a glue-like layer that allows more bacteria to stick to the tooth surfaces. It appears as a yellowish film that builds up on teeth and contains enamel-eroding acids. (reference 1-3) The first stage to a cavity is having this sticky film on a tooth surface cause topical damage to the underlying enamel. If plaque is not removed and calcium levels are not restored in the tooth surface, a chalky white spot will appear. This is the first sign of a cavity. (reference 4) Once the area without calcium becomes big enough, the surface of the
