common⚑ High burden in India

Dental caries (cavities)

Tooth decay, also known as caries, is the breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by . The resulting dental cavities may be many different colors, from yellow to black. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty eating. may include disease, tooth loss, , or dental formation. Tooth regeneration is a field of ongoing stem cell-based study that aims to find methods to reverse the effects of decay; current treatments are limited to symptom management.

Underlined words are explained — tap any of them.

Symptoms — what it feels like

·Pain, tooth loss, difficulty eating

Causes — why it happens

· producing acid from food debris

Prevention

·Low-sugar diet, tooth brushing, fluoride, dental flossing

Complications

· around the tooth, tooth loss, or formation

Test yourself

0/4 answered

4 quick questions on Dental caries (cavities). Tap an answer to check it.

1. Dental caries (tooth decay) is the breakdown of teeth caused by what?

2. Which of these raises the risk of dental cavities?

3. Which helps prevent tooth decay?

4. If untreated, dental caries can lead to what?

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Plain-language summary adapted from Wikipedia. Not medical advice.