Tooth Decay (Dental Caries)
The decay of a , in which it becomes softened, discolored, and/or porous.
About Tooth Decay
decay (also called cavities or caries) is caused by , sweet foods and drinks, and a lack of hygiene. It can harm your and cause a lot of pain, and may even result in loss of teeth.
Today decay is much less common than it was just a few decades ago. That is mostly due to better hygiene and more people using fluoride toothpaste, which goes to show that there are a number of things you can do to improve the health of your and prevent cavities.
Symptoms
White or brown spots on your are the first sign of decay. If it gets worse, holes develop on the surface of the teeth (cavities), and if the deeper layers of the teeth are affected, tooth decay can also harm the in the teeth and the root. Then the teeth become sensitive and painful — especially when eating anything cold or sweet. Tooth decay can cause so much damage to the teeth that it may no longer be possible to save them…