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• Determining Risk of Tooth Decay

We now have tools available to evaluate risk of Tooth Decay. Tooth decay is a bacterial infection just as gum disease is a bacterial infection, they are just different bacteria’s affecting different parts of the mouth. Unfortunately, there are no magic pills to take to get rid of it, but we do now have a strategy to reduce your risk. The goal in reducing your risk is to reduce the factors that allow the bacteria to sit on the tooth surface and excrete acid that decays teeth.

Some people have poor home care, so the bacteria is allowed to pile up on the tooth surfaces and do their damage, these people can immediately lower their risk by adding an electric toothbrush to the mix or shortening their hygiene appointments.

Others have adequate home care but still have yearly fillings because they may have poor salivary flow that doesn’t neutralize the acids excreted by the bacteria.

Others may just have more of the bad bacteria that cause tooth decay. They are mutans streptococci and lactobacilli. Today we have a test that is able to measure the salivary flow and measure the level of mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in the dental office. So now we can measure the three major risk factors that cause tooth decay! Adding these assessments to home care and dietary considerations can help lead to a plan to lower the risk of Tooth Decay! 

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