RESK AND CONSEQUENCES

                               tooth decay  Risk factors and Consequences.

* Risk factors:

 A Risk Factor is a variable associated with an increased chance of disease or infection. Risk factors may be linked with a disease, but they do not necessarily cause the disease. For example, it is inaccurate to say, “being young causes tooth decay” just because young people are at a higher risk due to the fact that young enamel is less resistant to decay.

 Certain foods and drinks: Foods that hold your teeth for an extended time — like milk, ice cream, honey, sugar, soda, edible fruit, cake, cookies, hard candy, breath mints, dry cereal, and chips — ar additional probably to cause decay than foods that ar simply washed away by spittle.

 Tooth location: Decay most frequently happens in your back teeth (molars and premolars). These teeth have millions of grooves, pits and crannies which will collect food particles. As a result, they are tougher to stay clean than your power tool, easy-to-reach front teeth. Plaque will build and bacterium will thrive between your back teeth, manufacturing the acid that destroys solid body substance.

 Inadequate brushing: If you don't clean your teeth soon after eating and drinking, plaque forms quickly and the first stages of decay can begin.

Eating disorders: Anorexia and bulimia can lead to significant tooth erosion and cavities. Stomach acid from repeated vomiting (purging) washes over the teeth and begins dissolving the enamel. Eating disorders can also interfere with saliva production.

Appliances: Retainers, orthodontic appliances, and bite or night guards all tend to restrict saliva flow over the teeth causing stagnation and promotion of dental bacterial plaque.

*The following factors place infants and children at increased risk for tooth decay:
   Poor oral hygiene.

    Putting the infant or child to sleep with a bottle or sippy cup or allowing frequent and prolonged bottle feedings or use of sippy cup containing beverages containing sugar (for example, fruit drinks, soda, fruit juice), milk, or formula during the day or night.

  Coating pacifiers with sweeteners like sugar or honey.

 *Consequences of tooth decay:

 Cavities and tooth decay can cause pain and sensitivity and if left untreated result in the need for a root canal or tooth extraction. It's best to prevent tooth decay and see your dentist regularly to ensure that cavities get cleaned and filled before a larger problem develops.

 The cavity may emit unpleasant odour and causes bad breath. This directly affects the normal social life.

 Tooth decay may lead to persistent pain, which affects one's appetite.

 When there is severe tooth decay, the bacteria may spread from the pulp to the surrounding periodontal tissues via the apex of the tooth, leading to inflammation or even the formation of dental abscess.