Dental caries is an infectious, transmissible, multifactorial disease which can be prevented at many levels of the pathophysiology. The interaction between cariogenic flora, acquired very early in life, with certain ("cariogenic") foods in the diet promotes a localized demineralization of the tooth's hard tissues (enamel and cementum), by release of low pH by-products of bacteria's normal metabolism. Under optimal circumstances these demineralized lesions uptake minerals from the plaque completing a demineralization-remineralization cycle. The presence of fluoride in the plaque favors remineralization.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to: 1) Recognize that dental caries is preventable infectious disease 2) Understand dental caries as a break in the demineralization-remineralization process. 3) Understand the role of diet, saliva and fluoride in the pathogenesis and prevention of dental caries.
Keywords: Infant Health, Oral Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.