Tooth Decay (Caries)

Health Information

• The Tooth Decay Process: How to Reverse It and Avoid a Cavity
  Information for parents of school-age children on how the tooth decay process starts and how it can be stopped.
  
• A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby
  A brochure for parents and caregivers on preventing early childhood caries (baby bottle tooth decay) in young children.
• A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby (for American Indians and Alaska Natives)
  A brochure for parents and caregivers on preventing early childhood caries (baby bottle tooth decay) in young children.
• Seal Out Tooth Decay
  This brochure explains to parents and caregivers what sealants are and how they work.
• Milk Matters with Buddy Brush
  A coloring book for children on the importance of calcium for strong teeth and a healthy mouth.
• Plaque: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It (PDF File, 197KB) (only available in printer-friendly PDF).
  This brochure shows how to brush and floss.
• MedlinePlus: Tooth Decay
  The NIH National Library of Medicine's compilation of links to government, professional and non-profit/voluntary organizations with information on tooth decay.
• Dental Caries (Tooth Decay)
  Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about how good oral hygiene can help prevent tooth decay
  
• Children's Oral Health
  Information from the CDC for parents and caregivers about how to prevent tooth decay in children 
• Oral Health: Preventing Cavities, Gum Disease, and Tooth Loss
  Information from the CDC about these painful, costly, and preventable oral health problems
• Take Care of Your Child's Teeth
  Information from Healthfinder.gov on steps you can take to protect your child's teeth from tooth decay.
• Take Care of Your Teeth and Gums
  Information from Healthfinder.gov on steps you can take to keep your teeth and gums healthy. 

Spanish

• Una boca saludable para su bebé
  Spanish version of "A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby", a brochure for parents and caregivers on preventing early childhood caries (baby bottle tooth decay) in young children.
• Selle los dientes contra la caries dental: Un folleto para padres
  Spanish version of "Seal Out Tooth Decay". This brochure explains to parents and caregivers what sealants are and how they work.
• ¡Salud! Con Leche y el Amiguito Cepillito
  Spanish version of "Milk Matters with Buddy Brush."  A coloring book for children on the importance of calcium for strong teeth and a healthy mouth.    
• La placa
  Spanish version of "Plaque: What It Is and How to Get Rid of It" (PDF File, 197KB)  .  This brochure shows how to brush and floss.
• Cómo cuidar de los dientes de tus hijos
  Spanish version of "Take Care of Your Child's Teeth." Information from Healthfinder.gov on steps you can take to protect your child's teeth from tooth decay.
• Cuídate los dientes y las encías
  Spanish version of "Take Care of Your Teeth and Gums."  Information from Healthfinder.gov on steps you can take to keep your teeth and gums healthy. 

Clinical Trials

• Dental Caries
• Dental Plaque

Research

• Tooth Decay
  A fact sheet that describes the science of tooth decay and research on new technologies to prevent, detect, and treat the disease.  
• It Takes Two (December 2012)
• Smart Sugar (February 2012)
• Something Old, Something New (May 2011)
• Selectively Removing Tooth Decay (December 2009)
• Xylitol Syrup Helps to Prevent Childhood Tooth Decay (July 2009)
• Scientists Explore Gene Variability in S. Mutans (June 2009)

Statistics

• Dental Caries Statistics
  Latest statistics on dental caries in children, adolescents, adults, and seniors
  
• Surveillance for Dental Caries, Dental Sealants, Tooth Retention, Edentulism and Enamel Fluorosis – United States, 1988-1994 and 1999-2002 (August 2005)
  Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the report provides the most current estimates of dental conditions such as cavities, use of dental sealants to prevent cavities, and tooth loss.
• Oral and Dental Health Data
  Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on untreated dental caries by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin, and poverty level, including1971-74, 1988-94, 1999-2002, 2005-08.  

Related Oral Health Topics

• Children's Oral Health
• Sealants