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 periodontal 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

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Gum disease (periodontitis)Oral cancer Cleft lip and palate Mouth ulcers Oral submucous fibrosis Tonsillitis Oral thrush Leukoplakia TMJ disorder Dental abscess Gingivitis Angular cheilitis

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