Dental Caries What are the symptoms of caries?
You may experience toothache after hot, cold or sweet foods or drinks. In advanced stages a cavity may be visible in the tooth. However a large number of people have caries without any symptoms at all. It is important to detect caries in this early stage itself to prevent further damage to the tooth.

How is caries caused?
When you eat sugary or starchy food, bacteria which are normally present in the mouth, convert it to acid. This acid mixes with the food debris, bacteria and saliva to form a sticky substance called plaque which then sticks to the teeth. The acid in the plaque then starts corroding the surface of the tooth till cavities form. Cavities are initially painless till they erode deep into the tooth (the part called the dentine and the pulp). Then they can become very painful.
Plaque is initially soft and sticky, but as time goes by, calcium deposits in it, converting it into a hard substance called tartar. This then irritates the gums and causes inflammation and bleeding resulting in pyorrhea.
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