龋齿

Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavity, is a disease where bacterial processes damage hard tooth structure （enamel, dentin and cementum）.龋齿，也称为蛀牙或蛀牙，是一种细菌过程破坏坚硬的牙齿结构（牙釉质，牙本质和牙骨质）的疾病。 These tissues progressively break down, producing dental cavities （holes in the teeth）.这些组织逐渐分解，产生蛀牙（牙齿上的孔）。 Two groups of bacteria are responsible for initiating caries, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli.两组细菌负责引发龋齿，变形链球菌和乳杆菌。 If left untreated, the disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, and, in severe cases, death.如果不及时治疗，该疾病可能导致疼痛，牙齿脱落，感染，甚至在严重的情况下甚至导致死亡。 Today, caries remains one of the most common diseases throughout the world.如今，龋齿仍然是全世界最常见的疾病之一。 Cariology is the study of dental caries.龋病是对龋齿的研究。
The presentation of caries is highly variable, however the risk factors and stages of development are similar.龋病的表现变化很大，但是危险因素和发育阶段相似。 Initially, it may appear as a small chalky area which may eventually develop into a large cavitation.最初，它可能显示为小的白垩区域，最终可能发展为大的空化现象。 Sometimes caries may be directly visible, however other methods of detection such as radiographs are used for less visible areas of teeth and to judge the extent of destruction.有时龋齿可能是直接可见的，但是其他检测方法（如X射线照片）可用于牙齿的可见性较低的区域并判断破坏的程度。
Tooth decay is caused by specific types of acid-producing bacteria which cause damage in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose.蛀牙是由特定类型的产酸细菌引起的，这些细菌在存在可发酵碳水化合物（例如蔗糖，果糖和葡萄糖）的情况下会造成损害。 The mineral content of teeth is sensitive to increases in acidity from the production of lactic acid.牙齿中的矿物质含量对乳酸产生时酸度的增加很敏感。 Specifically, a tooth （which is primarily mineral in content） is in a constant state of back-and-forth demineralization and remineralization between the tooth and surrounding saliva.具体来说，牙齿（主要是矿物质）在牙齿与周围唾液之间来回去矿质和再矿化处于恒定状态。 When the pH at the surface of the tooth drops below 5.5, demineralization proceeds faster than remineralization （ie there is a net loss of mineral structure on the tooth's surface）.This results in the ensuing decay.当牙齿表面的pH值降至XNUMX以下时，脱矿质过程比再矿化过程快（即，牙齿表面矿物质结构的净损失），从而导致随后的腐烂。 Depending on the extent of tooth destruction, various treatments can be used to restore teeth to proper form, function, and aesthetics, but there is no known method to regenerate large amounts of tooth structure.根据牙齿破坏的程度，可以使用各种处理方法将牙齿恢复到适当的形状，功能和美观，但是还没有已知的方法来再生大量的牙齿结构。 Instead, dental health organizations advocate preventive and prophylactic measures, such as regular oral hygiene and dietary modifications, to avoid dental caries.相反，牙齿保健组织提倡预防和预防措施，例如定期的口腔卫生和饮食调节，以免引起龋齿。
Though more than 95% of trapped food is left packed between teeth after every meal or snack, over 80% of cavities develop inside pits and fissures in grooves on chewing surfaces where the brush cannot reach and there is no access for saliva and fluoride to neutralise acid and remineralise demineralised tooth.尽管每次进餐或吃零食之后，仍有XNUMX％以上的被困食物留在牙齿之间，但XNUMX％以上的蛀牙会在凹坑内产生，并在咀嚼表面的凹槽内产生裂痕，使刷子无法触及，唾液和氟化物也无法中和酸和再矿化去矿质的牙齿。 Few cavities occur where saliva has easy access.唾液易于进入的部位很少发生蛀牙。
进食后咀嚼芹菜等纤维有助于迫使唾液进入被困食物中，从而稀释碳水化合物（例如糖），中和酸并重新矿化去矿质的牙齿。