October is Caries Disease Awareness Month!

Caries Disease Awareness Month is a campaign to educate the public about the actual cause of cavities. Caries is the disease behind tooth decay. It develops when acid from plaque bacteria slowly dissolves the minerals in your enamel.

A cavity is the end result of that progressive disease. If you have a cavity, it means you have an active oral disease. The good news is that caries disease is largely preventable.

This guide explains the campaign, what causes caries, how to prevent it, and how to check your own risk.

Key Takeaways

• Caries Disease Awareness Month educates the public about what causes cavities and how to prevent them.
• Caries is the most common chronic disease among children and adults in the United States.
• Untreated decay can lead to pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
• Caries starts when the pH in your mouth stays low for too long.
• The campaign’s resources hub offers patient education materials, a risk assessment, and a free online course.

What Is Caries Disease Awareness Month?

Caries Disease Awareness Month is an October campaign to change the way people talk about cavities. It educates the public about what causes cavities, how caries disease develops, and how to prevent it.

Members of the CariFree Cooperative, a network of dental professionals, lead the campaign’s education efforts. They created its Caries Risk Toolkit and present a free continuing education webinar for dental teams.

The campaign’s central message is that decay is a disease process. That process can affect anyone, even people with good dental hygiene and low sugar intake. A dental professional who focuses on risk assessment can help interrupt it.

How Common Is Caries Disease?

Caries is the most common chronic disease among both children and adults in the United States. Nearly 90% of US adults ages 20–64 have had tooth decay at some point.

Those figures come from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). The same data shows that about 1 in 5 adults have had decay that went untreated.

Untreated decay keeps damaging the tooth over time. The World Health Organization notes that it can lead to pain, infection, and tooth loss.

What Causes Caries Disease?

An imbalance in the bacteria on your teeth causes caries disease. That imbalance starts when the pH in your mouth stays low for too long. Acid-loving bacteria then outgrow the healthy ones and produce even more acid. Over time, that acid dissolves minerals from your enamel and forms a cavity.

Your mouth is a habitat for both good and bad bacteria. Every time you eat or drink, you change the pH balance of that habitat. When the pH stays low, the complex network of bacteria on your teeth (biofilm) falls out of balance. That biofilm dysfunction is the active disease called caries.

Several daily habits and health conditions make that acidic shift more likely.

• Skipped or rushed brushing leaves behind plaque that turns sugars into acid.
• A lack of fluoride slows the repair of minerals your enamel loses to acid.
• Dry mouth from certain medicines or head and neck radiation reduces the saliva that protects your teeth.
• Receding gums put tooth roots in contact with the bacteria that cause decay.
• Frequent snacking and sugary drinks expose your teeth to repeated acid attacks.

Snacking frequency is the easiest of these factors to change. Every sugary snack or drink starts a fresh acid attack on your enamel, according to NIDCR. Between attacks, saliva and fluoride replace the minerals your enamel lost. Frequent snacking cuts that repair time short.

Read next: CariFree’s oral pH FAQ.

How Can You Prevent Caries Disease?

You can prevent caries disease by keeping acid low and the bacteria in your mouth in balance. That balance shifts throughout the day with what you eat and how you care for your teeth. Consistent habits keep it on the healthy side.

• Brush twice a day with a toothpaste that contains 1,000–1,500 ppm fluoride.
• Clean between your teeth regularly with floss or another interdental cleaner.
• Limit sugary foods and snacks between meals.
• Choose water over juice, soda, and other sweet drinks.
• Use a neutral or elevated pH mouth rinse to bring your oral pH back up.
• See your dentist for regular checkups and professional cleanings.

Your dentist can tailor these habits to your risk. Ask about fluoride, xylitol, and nano-hydroxyapatite. All three can play a part in keeping your teeth strong.

CariFree Gel 1100 pairs 1,100 ppm fluoride with nano-hydroxyapatite for daily cavity prevention. It also contains 25% xylitol and pH-support technology designed to promote a healthier oral pH after brushing. Its low-abrasion formula suits anyone ages 2 and older.

How Do Dentists Treat Caries Disease?

Dentists treat caries disease by repairing the damage and correcting the conditions that caused it. The right treatment depends on how far the decay has progressed. Early decay can still heal. Once a cavity forms, the damage is permanent and needs professional repair.

Early-stage tooth decay shows up as a chalky white spot on the enamel. Your dentist can apply a high-strength fluoride treatment to put minerals back and stop the decay. At home, use a toothpaste with fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite to rebuild enamel and protect against new cavities.

Read next: Can You Reverse a Cavity?

Once decay reaches the dentin below the enamel, it can no longer heal on its own. Your dentist will remove the decayed area and fill the space.

Advanced decay reaches the pulp at the center of the tooth and can cause an infection. A root canal removes the infected tissue and saves the tooth. If the damage is too severe, your dentist may need to remove the tooth.

Each of these treatments repairs the tooth. None of them treats the biofilm dysfunction that caused the decay. That work starts with a Caries Risk Assessment of your diet, hygiene habits, medications, and dental history.

Your dentist uses the results to choose the right rinses, toothpastes, and dry-mouth care. Take the free caries risk quiz to see where your risk stands before your next appointment.

Take Part in Caries Disease Awareness Month

You can take part by learning how caries disease works and sharing what you learn. CariFree founder Dr. V. Kim Kutsch wrote Why Me? to explain how the disease begins and develops. Order a free copy to get its checklists for building a cavity-free plan.

Spread the word by sharing the campaign’s social posts and pH scale graphic during October. You can download both from the Caries Disease Awareness Month website.

Dental teams can take part too. Download the Caries Risk Toolkit for a chairside risk assessment form and patient education materials.

FAQs About Caries Disease Awareness Month

Find answers to common questions about cavities and tooth decay.

Is Tooth Decay a Disease?

Yes, tooth decay is a chronic disease called dental caries. Caries develops when frequent sugar and low pH upset the balance of bacteria on your teeth. Over time, that imbalance dissolves enamel and forms cavities. Like other chronic diseases, caries responds to changes in the daily habits that drive it.

Are Cavities Contagious?

Cavities are not directly contagious, but cavity-causing bacteria can spread between people through saliva. Kissing, sharing utensils, and sharing toothbrushes can transfer bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans. These bacteria produce acids that damage tooth enamel and contribute to cavities.

Why Do I Get So Many Cavities?

Frequent cavities usually mean your mouth stays acidic for long stretches of the day. Regular snacking, sweet drinks, and dry mouth all keep pH low. Acid-loving bacteria thrive in those conditions and keep producing more acid. A caries risk assessment shows which of these factors cause your tooth decay.

Can Tooth Decay Be Reversed?

Yes, early tooth decay can be stopped or reversed before a cavity forms. Early-stage decay shows up as a white spot where enamel has lost minerals. Saliva and fluoride can replace those minerals and rebuild the enamel. A cavity is permanent damage that needs a filling.

What Is a Caries Risk Assessment?

A caries risk assessment is a dental evaluation that identifies a patient’s risk of developing cavities. It examines oral bacteria, dietary habits, oral hygiene, and other factors that contribute to tooth decay. Dentists use the results to detect early warning signs, recommend preventive care, and create personalized Caries Risk Management™ treatment plans.