ORAL HEALTH AND DENTAL CARIES

Abstract

Dental disease is widespread among various groups, as tooth decay ranks
second after the common cold, as it is widespread and as soon as the child
reaches the age of five. Among the most important causes of tooth decay
are carbohydrates, bacteria, susceptibility to caries, and the time factor, it
divides tooth decay into the type of chronic caries and acute decay. The type
of bacteria associated with decay is Staphylococcus Spp. Streptococcus
pyogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Proteus Spp

Full text

World Bulletin of Public Health (WBPH)
Available Online at: https://www.scholarexpress.net
Volume-14, September 2022
ISSN: 2749-3644
105
ORAL HEALTH AND DENTAL CARIES
Sura I.A.Jabuk,
Anmar M. K. Al-Maamori,
Rasha Kadhim Mahdi,
Shaymaa O. H. Al-Mamoori,
Rafla'a S.H. Hussien, Noor M. Naji
Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq.
Corresponding Author E-mail: suraihsan@yahoo.com
Article history:
Abstract:
Received:
2022
h t
14ly Ju
Dental disease is widespread among various groups, as tooth decay ranks
second after the common cold, as it is widespread and as soon as the child
reaches the age of five. Among the most important causes of tooth decay
are carbohydrates, bacteria, susceptibility to caries, and the time factor, it
divides tooth decay into the type of chronic caries and acute decay. The type
of bacteria associated with decay is
Staphylococcus Spp. Streptococcus
pyogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli
and
Proteus Spp.
Accepted:
2022
h t
14 August
Published:
2022
th
28September
Keywords: Tooth decay, Gingivitis, Oral disease, Toothpaste
INTRODUCTION :
Dental caries is one of the most frequent oral and
dental disorders across all age groups; by the time a
child reaches the age of five, about (4) teeth have been
impacted by caries, and by puberty, more than (10)
teeth have been affected by caries (Dias
et al
., 2019) .
Tooth decay is a deterioration of the tooth's
structure, if left untreated, can lead to painful and
destructive stages. Unless the initiative is rapidly
established to increase caries in the early stages, the
tooth is weakened. (Jabuk
et al
., 2015) .
An early sign of the onset of caries; The appearance
of white (chalky) spots on the surface of the teeth;
Referring to a region of mineral dissolution caused by
the formation of acids in this area, and as the dissolution
of minerals continues, these white spots turn brown. In
the absence of a medical examination, Brown spots turn
into decay, and holes occur in the teeth, and if these
spots remain in their bright brown color; This means
that the metal dissolution process stops, and this color
is only a stain, but if it turns dark brown; This indicates
that caries is in an active state (Boehlke
et al
., 2020) .
• Causes of Tooth Decay
Many people believe that caries develops solely as a
result of neglecting teeth and failing to keep them clean,
yet caries develops when the following variables are
present:
1-Carbohydrates: Foods that contain high
carbohydrates, such as sugars, starches, ice cream,
sweets, fruits, and juice, are among essential
substances that help the occurrence of decay if they
remain on the surface of the tooth for a long time
(Inquimbert
et al
., 2019) .
2- Bacteria: Sugars alone cannot cause decay without
the presence of bacteria, and certain types of bacteria
help in the occurrence of decay, including spherical
bacteria and rod-shaped bacteria (Hussein,2020) .
3- The susceptibility of teeth to decay: This is due
to poor nutrition in periods of tooth formation, as the
proportion of minerals in the teeth such as calcium and
phosphates is reduced which leads to brittle teeth .
4- The time: if the teeth are not cleaned regularly and
adequately; The (bacterial plaque) forming on the teeth
becomes challenging to control and effectively remove,
thus tooth decay will begin (Hussein
et al
., 2019).
Steps of Tooth Decay :
1- The remnants of foods containing high carbohydrates
left on the teeth. such as sweets, bread, fruits, and
juice .
2- Then, the bacteria that are already in the mouth
digest these residues, especially sugar and starch, and
convert them into acids .
3- These acids and bacteria combine with food waste.
It forms a sticky substance that is the germinal plaque
(plaque) and this, in turn, adheres to the teeth and is
visible on the back molars, but it appears on all teeth,
above the gums, and at the edges of the fillings .
4- The acids in the plaque dissolve the tooth's enamel
surface - which is the outer layer of the tooth that
consists of a substance called hydroxyapatite - creating
cavities that are initially small and painless, and are an
ideal place for germs to multiply, and grow inside the
tooth to reach the dentin (the middle layer of A tooth
crown) causing pain when cold and hot, then to the pulp
of the tooth (blood vessels and nerves), where it
becomes painful, especially at night (Durand
et al
.,
2019; Al-Shami
et al
., 2019)

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Types of Tooth Decay
There are two types of caries, considering the time and
speed of its occurrence:
1- Chronic caries: it occurs over a long time and in
several stages; Starting with enamel, then ivory, and
finally, the pulp .
2- Acute caries: it occurs very quickly; It reaches the
pulp of the tooth without the tooth’s tissues being able
to protect it, and this type of decay occurs frequently in
children (Hussian
et al
., 2016) .
Dental Caries Complications
The substance in decay does not depend on the
unpleasant look of the tooth, nor does it stop at the
boundaries of the tooth or the mouth, but rather
develops into a number of health difficulties, some of
which damage the teeth themselves, and some of which
extend beyond that. Among the complications are:
1- Extraction of the teeth .
2- Dental erosion .
3- Bad breath .
4- Abscess beneath the root of the teeth: This occurs
when the advancement of caries continues to destroy
the pulp, resulting in an abscess under the root that
causes significant infections. Such as lymph node
inflammation, osteitis, and sinusitis (Kazemtabrizi
et al
., 2020) .
5- Furthermore, rotting teeth can serve as an entrance
point for serious infections that damage other regions
of the body, such as the heart in those with birth
abnormalities or rheumatic heart disease.
6- Gingivitis is caused by tooth decay, which manifests
as ulcers that can migrate to the inner parts of the
gums, causing bleeding, redness, and swelling
(Jafarzade
et al
., 2021) .
The type of bacteria that cause tooth decay :
1-
Staphylococcus Spp.
Gram-positive cocci are usually clustered in grape
clusters, which is why they are called staphylococcus. It
grows aerobically and is also selective anaerobic, except
for
S. saccharolyticus
, which grows anaerobically. Non-
motile, non-spore-forming, and secretes the enzyme
catalase. It should be noted here that
S. aureus
is
considered a normal flora that is carried by a large
number of people in different areas of the body( Damtie
et al
., 2020).
2-
Streptococcus pyogenes:
It is a spherical bacteria whose cells accumulate in
the form of chains, so it is called by that name. It is
gram-positive facultative anaerobic that grows well on
the blood agar in the form of small to medium-sized
colonies lead in color and it completely dissolves the red
blood cells ( the Beta-haemolysis), negative to catalase,
which causes tonsillitis, otitis media, which is one of the
causes of joint infection (Wilson & Wilson 2021).
3-Bacillus cereus
It is widespread in the environment and can be easily
isolated from soil and various foods such as dairy
products, meat, spices, and grains. They are large
straight bacilli, positive for the gram stain, forming
spores, and their cells are usually arranged in pairs or
chains with round or square ends. They are moved by
circumferential flagella (peritrichous flagella),
B.
cereus
cells are 1 - 1.2 μm in width. The length ranges from
3to 5 Micrometres. Aerobic and facultative anaerobes
The optimum growth temperature for most isolates are
between 35 – and 40 ° C ( Horst
et al
., 2018).
4-Escherichia coli
Belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family, which is
derived from the fact that members of this family live in
the human gastrointestinal tract and from the Greek
word Enteron, meaning intestine. It is also called
Coliform, which are gram-negative bacilli producing gas
and acid from the fermentation of lactose, positive for
indole and methyl red, moving with a peripheral
flagellum, growing at a pH between 2 7.6-7. Also called
fecal coli, which is found naturally in the intestine,
where one gram of feces contains about 107 colony-
forming units of them (Colombo & Tanner, 2019).
5- Proteus Spp.
Members of the genus are distinguished by being
straight bacilli, 0.8-0.4 μm in diameter and 3-1 μm in
length, gram-stain negative, motile with circumferential
flagella, non-capsular, non-spores forming. It is difficult
to obtain separate colonies from them when planted in
the center of the blood dens, and the medium of the
nutrients; as well as the bacterium is characterized by
its distinctive active movement, which is known as the
phenomenon of creeping proliferation or swarming
phenomena, where the surface of the blood cells is
covered with a thin transparent layer forming concentric
circular lines Sehdev
et al
., 2020).
Kinds of Toothpaste
It is preferred when choosing a toothpaste,
regardless of its type or the type of problem, that it has
the following ingredients:
1- Fluoride: It is classified as one of the natural
minerals and fluoride is considered the first and most
crucial component in most toothpaste because of its
significant role in protecting teeth from decay, and
some countries add it to drinking water because of its
many benefits in fighting bacteria and strengthening
teeth ( Jabuk
et al
., 2020).

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Volume-14, September 2022
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2- Antibacterial: They aim to eliminate harmful
bacteria that multiply in the mouth and around the teeth
and to prevent their negative effect on weakening and
eroding teeth, as well as weakening the gums and bad
breath, and among the most important of these
antibiotics and the most used in toothpaste is triclosan
(Thornton-Evans et al.,2019)
3-Alkaline substances: These materials help in the
formation of thick toothpaste foam and get rid of food
debris stuck between the teeth, but they are used in
minimal quantities due to the great controversy
surrounding them as being harmful to the body and
causing cancer .
4- Anti-tartar materials: These materials prevent
plaque from forming on the outer layers of the teeth,
and also help break up the previously formed tartar
(Amaechi
et al
., 2019) .
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