Caries transferable by a kiss? Can oral rotting be contagious?

All Germany suffers from tooth decay: Experts believe that in this country about 98 percent of adults are affected. As this infectious disease arises and why dentists resort to the drill less and less often in the treatment, explains Dr. med. Jochen H. Schmidt, leading dentist and implantologist of the Cologne Carree Dental.

Almost all of us know caries (lat. Caries = rot, rottenness) from our own (painful) experience. Worldwide, there is no comparably common infectious dental disease. In addition to lack of oral hygiene is an unhealthy, sugary diet as the main cause of this civilization disease, which is almost unknown among the Eskimos, for example. In tooth rot, as another common name, it comes to a progressive decalcification and thus to a subsequent injury of the enamel. If this protective layer of the tooth crown is destroyed, bacteria have easy play. In the worst case, the tooth loss threatens.

Can caries be transmitted? Image: radub85 - fotolia

Which teeth are most affected by decay??
While the milk teeth are usually affected in children, the caries problem is usually between the teeth in adults. The reason for this may be primarily due to a non-optimal dental care.

Caries is contagious?
Yes, tooth decay is contagious. Therefore, parents should not lick the pacifier or bread spoon of the offspring, because only then the caries-causing bacteria can get into the oral cavity of the child.

Why do we get tooth decay??
Dental caries is mainly caused by bacteria in the oral cavity. These turn sugar we absorb into food into tooth-breaking acid. The result: holes in the teeth. What can I do? Regular brushing eliminates bacteria and acid, significantly reducing the risk of tooth decay.

How can you recognize caries at home yourself??
Recommended are regular checks. If the look in the mirror shows brown or white spots on the tooth enamel, this indicates caries. For this disease is a decalcification of the tooth substance by bacteria typical. Even teeth that are sensitive to cold or heat can be a clue. But in the end, only the dentist can judge for sure. Incidentally, the infamous caries hole is only at a very advanced stage.

Can the dentist stop caries?
Yes, provided the therapy begins before the tooth is severely damaged or even destroyed. It is important that deeper carious areas are thoroughly removed. With very low caries, it is possible to leave the nervous portion. A dense filling can then ensure that the caries-causing bacteria are trapped and die off.

Are there other typical caries symptoms besides the pain and sensitive teeth??
Typical symptoms are unsightly discoloration of the teeth. It can also lead to severe inflammation and tooth loss. Incidentally, dentists distinguish two forms depending on the damage to the tooth substance: If the surface is still intact despite advancing decalcification, the physician speaks of initial caries. In contrast, the surface is already attacked in the case of "established caries".

What does a caries-preventing oral care and diet look like??
A guarantee for permanently beautiful teeth is regular care with the right brushing technique: gently press the bristles against the teeth and then remove food debris and pads with small, jolting movements. In addition to fluoride-containing toothpastes, daily use of dental floss is also recommended. This is the only way to thoroughly clean the interstices where caries is very common. And when it comes to nutrition, it's better to use black bread and fruit more often than chocolates and chips. The vigorous chewing of apple or pumpernickel stimulates the production of saliva, leaves less deposits and thus makes bacteria run dry.

Caries always causes pain?
Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of toothache. But even with a hole in the tooth, it does not have to. However, if the caries penetrates as far as into the pulp, ie the pulp, inflammation and, as a consequence, severe pain - at first usually only intermittently, finally permanent.

Caries pain differs from other toothache?
Toothache occurs in a variety of forms - from mild tugging to throbbing pain. The latter may, for example, indicate a dead tooth nerve or an inflamed wisdom tooth. Most often pain when irritated tooth nerves.

When does a carious tooth have to be pulled??
This question can only be answered individually. To summarize, it can be said that a tooth must be pulled if it has been significantly destroyed by decay or accident. The same applies if it has been loosened too much by bone loss or has such a strong inflammation that root canal treatment is no longer possible.

Instead of the drill, modern caries treatment relies on painless plastic gel. Is that the solution of the future??
In fact, the relatively new caries infiltration does not need to be drilled. This saves the patient some pain. It is equally advantageous that in this form of caries treatment no healthy tooth substance is destroyed. Unfortunately, this method is only suitable for diseases in the early stages. With far advanced caries or affected areas in the root area, there is still no way around the drill.