Dental decay

Tooth decay, also known as dental decay or dental caries, is when acids in your mouth dissolve the outer layers of your teeth.

Why it occurs

Your mouth is full of bacteria, which combine with small food particles and saliva to form a sticky film known as plaque that builds up on your teeth.

When you consume food and drink that is high in carbohydrates (sugary or starchy), the bacteria in plaque turn the carbohydrates into the energy they need, producing acid at the same time.

Over time, the acid in plaque begins to break down the surface of your tooth. Left untreated, the plaque can completely destroy the outside of the tooth, exposing the nerves inside. Once this happens, you will experience toothache and with no treatment the tooth will eventually fall out.

How common is it?

Tooth decay is one of the most widespread health problems in the UK. More than half (55%) of adults in the UK have one or more decayed teeth.

Tooth decay is also a problem for children. It is estimated that between 52% and 77% of children aged 8 to 15 have some obvious tooth decay in their permanent teeth.

Outlook

As well as being one of the most widespread health conditions, tooth decay is also one of the most preventable. As long as you look after your teeth well and visit your dentist regularly, you should be able to prevent tooth decay occuring.

If you do get tooth decay, there are a number of techniques that can help repair damaged teeth, such as fillings and crowns (see Tooth decay - treatment for more information). In more advanced cases of tooth decay, the tooth may need to be removed.