What does tooth decay mean?

Definitions for tooth decay
tooth de·cay

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word tooth decay.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. cavity, caries, dental caries, tooth decaynoun

    soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth

Wikipedia

  1. Tooth decay

    Tooth decay, also known as cavities or caries, is the breakdown of teeth due to acids produced by bacteria. The cavities may be a number of different colors from yellow to black. Symptoms may include pain and difficulty with eating. Complications may include inflammation of the tissue around the tooth, tooth loss and infection or abscess formation.The cause of cavities is acid from bacteria dissolving the hard tissues of the teeth (enamel, dentin and cementum). The acid is produced by the bacteria when they break down food debris or sugar on the tooth surface. Simple sugars in food are these bacteria's primary energy source and thus a diet high in simple sugar is a risk factor. If mineral breakdown is greater than build up from sources such as saliva, caries results. Risk factors include conditions that result in less saliva such as: diabetes mellitus, Sjögren syndrome and some medications. Medications that decrease saliva production include antihistamines and antidepressants. Dental caries are also associated with poverty, poor cleaning of the mouth, and receding gums resulting in exposure of the roots of the teeth.Prevention of dental caries includes regular cleaning of the teeth, a diet low in sugar, and small amounts of fluoride. Brushing one's teeth twice per day and flossing between the teeth once a day is recommended. Fluoride may be acquired from water, salt or toothpaste among other sources. Treating a mother's dental caries may decrease the risk in her children by decreasing the number of certain bacteria she may spread to them. Screening can result in earlier detection. Depending on the extent of destruction, various treatments can be used to restore the tooth to proper function or the tooth may be removed. There is no known method to grow back large amounts of tooth. The availability of treatment is often poor in the developing world. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen may be taken for pain.Worldwide, approximately 3.6 billion people (48% of the population) have dental caries in their permanent teeth as of 2016. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly all adults have dental caries at some point in time. In baby teeth it affects about 620 million people or 9% of the population. They have become more common in both children and adults in recent years. The disease is most common in the developed world due to greater simple sugar consumption and less common in the developing world. Caries is Latin for "rottenness".

ChatGPT

  1. tooth decay

    Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is a common health condition characterized by the damage and destruction of the hard outer surface (enamel) of a tooth. This typically occurs when bacteria in the mouth turns food debris and sugars into harmful acids, which gradually erode the tooth's surface and create holes. If left untreated, tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss. Factors such as poor oral hygiene, consumption of sugary drinks and snacks, and not getting enough fluoride can increase the risk of tooth decay.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of tooth decay in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of tooth decay in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of tooth decay in a Sentence

  1. Francesco Branca:

    We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10 percent of total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay.

  2. Deborah Moore:

    Xylitol is known in the laboratory to kill the main bacteria that cause tooth decay, which is why it was singled out as having possible preventive effects on tooth decay.

  3. Jonathan Shenkin:

    This study simply adds to the body of evidence that associates secondhand smoke and an increased risk of tooth decay among children, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in childhood.

  4. Rhonda Kalasho:

    This acidity weakens enamel making it a lot more prone to staining, tooth decay and breakage.

  5. Deborah Moore:

    If people are concerned about tooth decay the best thing to do is be preventive.


Translations for tooth decay

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"tooth decay." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/tooth+decay>.

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