Are Some People More Susceptible To Dental Caries As Others?

About 97% of the population is affected by the prevalent infectious disease in humans: dental caries. Not only does it lead to the loss of tooth structure and gives you pain, it also makes you lose your money over the treatment costs at the dentist. Some often claim that they brush twice a day, they floss and they follow all good oral hygiene measures but still get cavities. This is not uncommon, the question is why?

You must all have read about the carious process i.e. the tug of war between remineralization and demineralization. But there are also other factors which indicate that the prevalence of caries higher in some individuals.

• Genetics does influence the susceptibility of a person to caries but it is also important to remember that cavities are mainly caused by three things: bacterial acids, food acids and abrasions from trauma and brushing.

• Composition and flow of saliva: some people have a lot of bicarbonate in their saliva, which can neutralize the acids effectively. If the saliva is too viscous it may not be able to have the right flow properties to clean affected areas. The more saliva present in the mouth the moiré natural debridement occurs.

• All bacterial biofilms are not alike; streptococci mutans are the primary culprits in caries, however different strains of the same bacteria exhibit varying levels of cariogenicity. Thus it is not the quantity of plaque present but the specific strain with which one is infected that is important in predicting who might get cavities.

• Diet is another factor contributing to caries susceptibility as caries causing organisms prefer sugars especially sucrose as the primary energy source. Thus controlling the number of sugar exposures i.e. reducing the habit of frequent snacking, aids the remineralization side of the equation. An increase in cavities has been seen due to gummy vitamins given to young children.

• Tooth morphology: people with teeth that have deep grooves on the biting surface are predisposed to more cavities as they entrap biofilms easily and make it harder to remove.

• Tobacco chewing is also said to lead to dental caries. Studies have revealed that men who chew tobacco are said to be four times more likely to have caries. It is said to be attributed to the high sugar content in tobacco. Moreover both chew and snuff can contribute to gingival recession and make the roots liable to decay.

• Consumption of bottled water on a regular basis tends to lead to decay; they are missing out the vital ingredient that helps prevent cavities: fluoride. When samples of different brands of bottles water were tested, it was found that most of them fell below the recommended range of fluoride.

• Can hormones be blamed for women’s cavities? Certain studies have suggested that reproductive pressures and dietary preferences all contribute.

• Most important of all, caries depends on the oral hygiene maintenance followed by each individual. Even though certain factors such as genetics, hormones, tooth morphology etc are not under our control, regular brushing with the correct technique and flossing will surely minimize the amount of decay.

The above are just some of the many factors that contribute to caries progression and ultimately cavities. Regardless, one can see why some people get cavities and others don’t.