“The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, a mirror of our overall well-being.”

Dental Caries

• Chapter 13

“The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, a mirror of our overall well-being.”

• “The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body, a mirror of our overall well-being.”
• Harold C. Slavkin, D.D.S. Former Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and Dean of the University of Southern California School of Dentistry

Everyday in the United States, millions of people including children, working families, and the elderly live in constant pain as a result of oral disease or injury to the mouth.

• Everyday in the United States, millions of people including children, working families, and the elderly live in constant pain as a result of oral disease or injury to the mouth.

Introduction

• Dental caries is an infectious bacterial disease that has plagued humans since the beginning of recorded history. What is dental caries? Simply stated, it is tooth decay.
• Today, because of scientific advances and new technologies, dentistry is developing new strategies for managing dental caries. These strategies emphasize prevention and early intervention.

You cannot be healthy without oral health. Oral health and general health should not be interpreted as separate entities. Oral health is a critical component of health.

• You cannot be healthy without oral health. Oral health and general health should not be interpreted as separate entities. Oral health is a critical component of health.

Dental Caries: A Bacterial Infection

• There are two specific groups of bacteria found in the mouth that are responsible for dental caries:
• Mutans streptococci (Streptococcus mutans)
• Lactobacilli
• They are found in relatively large numbers in the dental plaque.
• The presence of lactobacilli in the mouth indicates a high sugar intake.