Dental caries (tooth decay) remains the most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults, even though it is largely preventable. Although caries has significantly decreased for most Americans over the past five decades, disparities remain among some population groups.

Dental Caries in the Permanent (Adult) Teeth

Note: Approximately 2% of adults ages 20 to 64 years have no teeth. This survey applies only to those adults who have teeth.

Dental caries, both treated and untreated, in the permanent teeth of all adults ages 20 to 64 years declined from the early 1970s until the most recent (2011–2016) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The decrease was significant in all population subgroups. In spite of this decline, significant disparities are still found in some population groups.

Tooth decay (dental caries) is damage to a tooth that can happen when decay-causing bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the tooth’s surface, or enamel. This can lead to a small hole in a tooth, called a cavity. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.

People of all ages can get tooth decay once they have teeth—from childhood through the senior years.

Young children are at risk for “early childhood caries,” sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay, which is severe tooth decay in baby teeth.

Because many older adults experience receding gums, which allows decay-causing bacteria in the mouth to come into contact with the tooth’s root, they can get decay on the exposed root surfaces of their teeth.

Dental Caries in the Permanent (Adult) Teeth

Dental caries (tooth decay), both treated and untreated, has declined among adolescents ages 12 to 19 years from the early 1970s until the most recent (2011–2016) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In spite of this decline, significant disparities are still found in some population groups. Although there was an increase in caries in Mexican American adolescents, there also was a significant decline in untreated caries in this ethnic group. More than half of older adolescents (ages 16 to 19 years) had caries.