Which statement correctly describes dental caries?

Which statement correctly describes dental caries?

• A. Non classic, transmissible, infectious disease.
• B. Not influenced by diet.
• C. Caused by a single bacterium.
• D. Do not involve biofilm.

Answer: (A)

Dental caries is an infectious, biofilm-mediated disease in which acid-producing bacteria in dental plaque metabolize fermentable carbohydrates from the diet into acids that demineralize tooth enamel. The infectious aspect means these cariogenic bacteria can be transmitted between people via saliva, so a child can acquire the bacteria from a caregiver or household member. This makes the description of caries as nonclassic, transmissible, infectious align with the real biology: it is not just a noninfectious condition, and its development hinges on microbial activity within a plaque biofilm. Diet strongly influences caries because frequent sugar exposure feeds the bacteria and promotes acid production. It is not caused by a single bacterium; multiple species in the biofilm contribute, and the disease involves biofilm rather than being a simple, isolated infection.

Dental caries is an infectious, biofilm-mediated disease in which acid-producing bacteria in dental plaque metabolize fermentable carbohydrates from the diet into acids that demineralize tooth enamel. The infectious aspect means these cariogenic bacteria can be transmitted between people via saliva, so a child can acquire the bacteria from a caregiver or household member. This makes the description of caries as nonclassic, transmissible, infectious align with the real biology: it is not just a noninfectious condition, and its development hinges on microbial activity within a plaque biofilm. Diet strongly influences caries because frequent sugar exposure feeds the bacteria and promotes acid production. It is not caused by a single bacterium; multiple species in the biofilm contribute, and the disease involves biofilm rather than being a simple, isolated infection.