by Maya Vokes-Didier

Created on: March 13, 2009   Last Updated: April 19, 2009

Some tortures are physical
And some are mental,
But the one that is both
Is dental.
~Ogden Nash

Most of us have, at some time or the other, felt the ouch of a toothache. Call it negligence or sheer bad luck, few can escape the dreaded dentist drill. But we do brush and floss twice a day, then what might be going wrong? How does tooth decay occur?

It's all the work of the bacteria in the mouth. Millions of tiny organisms that live in your mouth. When you consume sugar-rich food or drink, these organisms break the sugars down into acid. This acid, bacteria and tiny particles of food get together, aided by saliva. They then form a sticky film called plaque that coats your teeth. Thorough brushing and flossing should generally rid your teeth of this plaque. However, this does not always happen. Plaque, that remains on the teeth, builds up over time and eventually breaks down the surface of the teeth. This is how tooth decay (also known as dental decay and dental caries) occurs.

What causes it is basically letting that aforementioned plaque remain for a long period of time. Poor dental hygiene, laziness to brush and floss every day, consuming plenty of carbohydrate-rich foods and sugary drinks are all contributing reasons for tooth decay.

How common is tooth decay?

Tooth decay is such a condition that typically gets established during the first two years of life. That is the age when you first lay your foundation for dental hygiene and health.

According to the 2008 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay affects more than a quarter of American children aged 2 to 5. A staggering 90% of American adults over the age of 40 suffer from tooth decay, according to the same report.

In the U.K, according to the National Health Services, more than half the population of adults and children have one or more dental decays. According to a news item in the Telegraph, more than 36,000 children are being admitted to hospital with tooth decay every year and numbers are on the rise. This may be because the use of general anesthesia in dentistry was moved from dental practices to hospitals in 2001. But it gives us a clear idea of the general state of the country' dental health!

What can it lead to?

Tooth decay destroys the tooth if left untreated, thus leading to pain, tooth infection (abscess), unpleasant oral odor and difficulties chewing food. If the decay has gone beyond repair, i.e, it cannot be corrected with fillings, then your dentist might suggest a root canal treatment or total extraction.

Prevention is better than cure

Despite the high-percentage statistics of its prevalence, tooth decay is one of the most easily preventable of conditions. Reducing your consumption of sugary foods and drinks, brushing your teeth after every meal, daily flossing, and regular dental check-ups will no doubt help. A professional clean-up by a hygienist is something that I personally recommend.

As the great 17th century Spanish novelist Cervantes once wrote, "every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond". Clearly, you must protect those diamonds if you plan to keep them.

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