Cariogene

Cariogene is a term used to describe substances, organisms, and conditions that promote dental caries by generating an acidic environment in dental plaque, leading to enamel demineralization. The word derives from Latin caries (decay) and the suffix -genic, meaning producing.

Most cariogenic activity in the mouth is driven by fermentable carbohydrates metabolized by plaque bacteria. Key cariogenic organisms include Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, which ferment sugars to lactic acid; Lactobacillus species contribute to progression in deeper lesions. These bacteria also synthesize extracellular glucans from sucrose, enhancing plaque adhesion and retention of fermentable substrates. When plaque pH falls below the enamel’s critical pH of about 5.5, demineralization occurs; repeated cycles favor lesion formation.

Dietary and host factors modulate cariogenicity. Frequent consumption of sucrose and other fermentable carbohydrates, prolonged exposure, reduced salivary flow, and inadequate oral hygiene increase risk. Not all sugars are equally cariogenic, and overall risk depends on exposure pattern, plaque control, and fluoride availability.

Prevention and management focus on reducing cariogenic exposure and enhancing remineralization. Strategies include limiting sugary foods and snacking, practicing regular toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, the use of fluoride varnish or toothpaste, sugar substitutes like xylitol, increasing saliva flow, and sealants on susceptible pits and fissures. Caries remains a multifactorial disease, and cariogenic potential is influenced by host factors, diet, and microbial ecology.