This week, Dr. Calderone answers one of our most frequent questions.

What is root caries (decay)?
Tooth decay (caries) isn't just a problem for children but can happen at any age. In fact, decay is on the rise in older adults. This decay is very different than that experienced by younger patients in their "cavity-prone" years. It is know by the name of "root decay" or "root cavities". Root decay occurs after gums have receded (shrunk) away to expose the tooth root.

What causes root decay?
The root surfaces are exposed and plaque (bacteria) can easily cling to the root surface. The root surface is softer than the enamel surrounding the crown of your tooth and decays much easier. Changes in the quality and quantity of our saliva changes as we grow older and add different medications to the mix. Many times we develop a "dry mouth" which makes decay and other rmouth problems more likely to occur.