[Prevention of dental caries]

Caries prevention. Today there is enough scientific knowledge about the etiology of caries and factors that might interfere in this process in order to develop preventive strategies. Pathological factors including acidogenic bacteria (e.g. mutans streptococci and lactobacilli), salivary disfunction and dietary carbohydrates are related to caries progression. Protective factors--which include salivary calcium, phosphate and proteins, salivary flow, fluoride, and antibacterial components or agents--can balance, prevent or reverse dental caries. Two strategies have been described in preventive medicine: (1) the population strategy, which in aimed at a general reduction of the risk factors for all the individuals in the population, whether diseased or not; (2) the high-risk strategy, which aims at targeting the program at those individuals with the highest risk. As caries progression or reversal is determined by the balance between protective and pathological factors, caries prevention should be given high priority not only by physicians (general, paediatric, paediatric dentist) but also by schools and even the governmental authorities. More time should be spent giving the right informations to the population regarding dietary habits and programs of nutritional education, oral hygiene routines and fluoride exposure.