Scientific Sessions

Dental Caries

The most prevalent noncommunicable illness in the world is dental caries (also known as tooth decay or dental cavities). Severe dental caries has a negative impact on overall health and frequently results in pain and infection, necessitating tooth extraction. Dental caries is a costly condition to treat, accounting for 5–10% of healthcare costs in developed nations, and is one of the leading causes of child hospitalisation in several high-income countries. In the development of dental caries, free sugars constitute a critical dietary component. When bacteria in the mouth metabolise carbohydrates to create acid, the hard tissues of the teeth get demineralized (enamel and dentine).