Caries for Dummies

Alright, so "caries" is a fancy way of saying "tooth decay." Basically, when your teeth get damaged from things like sugar, plaque, or not brushing your teeth well, it can lead to caries. It's like when a tiny hole forms on the surface of your tooth and starts to get bigger and bigger, kind of like a little cave forming in the tooth.

You see, when we eat sugary foods or drinks, the bacteria in our mouth produce acid, and that acid can eat away at the enamel of our teeth, causing caries. It's like when you leave a piece of candy in your mouth for too long and it starts to get all sticky and gross - that's kind of what's happening to your tooth, except it's the acid from the bacteria that's making it all gross.

So, caries is basically a word that dentists use to describe that yucky, damaging process that happens in our mouths when we don't take good care of our teeth. It can lead to toothaches, cavities, and even more serious problems if it's not taken care of. So, it's super important to brush your teeth and go to the dentist regularly to prevent caries from happening. And don't forget to floss, too! It's like giving your teeth a little extra hug to keep them healthy and happy.