New CDC Statistics Show Dental Caries is Still a Huge Problem
Get the preventative and restorative care you need at California Dental Group.
According to new statistics released by the CDC this month, 91 percent of American adults over age 20 have had dental caries, aka cavities, in their lifetime. Worse still, 27 percent of adults over age 20 have untreated dental caries.
The problem is greatest among minorities. The CDC reported that 36 percent of Hispanics and 42 percent of African-Americans over age 20 have untreated tooth decay.
These statistics are very worrisome considering the consequences of dental caries, which are by no means limited to simple cavities. Dental caries can also result in:
- Unsightly white spots on teeth
- Tooth pain and sensitivity
- Possible infection of tooth roots and gum tissue
- Transmission of oral bacteria to other parts of the body, possibly resulting in increased risk of serious diseases
- Tooth loss
Dental Caries is Treatable and Preventable
The truly tragic part of these statistics is that dental caries—and its closely related cousin gum disease—are both treatable and preventable. Prevention is both simple and affordable, and can save individuals from significant pain and expense later on.
What Causes Dental Caries?
In order to understand how to prevent dental caries, you need to understand how this problem occurs. Oral bacteria are present in everyone’s mouths, covering teeth in a layer of biofilm known as plaque. When you eat or drink, the bacteria feed on the sugars in the food or beverage. This causes them to produce acid. Over time this acid can wear away at your tooth enamel, causing a cavity.
To prevent tooth decay, the most important activities are:
- Brushing and flossing teeth—this helps to both control the population of harmful oral bacteria and deprive them of the sugars they need to produce acid.
- Visiting the dentist—this helps to make sure any small cavities that do begin to develop are identified early so that you can receive treatment
It’s Never Too Late to Visit the Dentist
While dental caries is easiest to treat in its early stages, your dentist can provide treatment options for every stage of the disease. This includes:
- Fillings: Small cavities may be filled with either white composite fillings or metal fillings. This seals up the damaged area so that further decay will not occur.
- Crowns: If the decay is extensive, so that you have a number of small cavities on one tooth or a really large cavity, a filling may not do the job. In this case, the entire tooth can be protected using a crown.
- Root Canals: If the decay has spread down into the pulp chamber and/or roots of the tooth, a root canal will be necessary to remove all the damaged and infected tissue. If this is done, the hollowed out tooth may then be capped with a crown so you don’t have to actually lose the tooth.
- Dental Implants: If you have already lost a tooth due to dental caries, the damage is not done. You could still suffer bone loss in the jaw if you do not take steps to replace the lost root tissue. A dental implant can replace both the root and the top of the tooth for a complete solution to a missing tooth.
Call California Dental Group now to schedule an appointment and get the help you need for any stage of dental caries.
