caries

n., pl., caries.
Decay of a bone or tooth, especially dental caries.

[Latin cariēs.]

For more information on caries, visit Britannica.com.

Dental decay caused by attack on the tooth enamel by acids produced by bacteria that are normally present in the mouth. Sugars in the mouth promote bacterial growth and acid production; sucrose specifically promotes plaque-forming bacteria, which cause the most damage. A moderately high intake of fluoride increases the resistance of tooth enamel to acid attack. See also tooth-friendly sweets.

Decay, as of bone or teeth.

• dental c. — demineralization and loss of substance of the hard tissues of the teeth, leading to continued destruction of enamel and dentine, and cavitation of the tooth. It is a very rare disease in animals. Occurs occasionally in sheep. May occur as pits or fissures. Called also a cavity.

IN BRIEF: A destruction of bone or tooth as in tooth decay.

Dental caries can be prevented with good dental hygiene.

Tutor's tip: He "carries" (present tense of carry) his son to the dentist so she can fill his "caries" (tooth decay, cavities).

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - huller i tænderne, karies

Nederlands (Dutch)
cariës

Français (French)
n. - carie

Deutsch (German)
n. - Karies, Knochenfraß, Zahnfäule

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (παθολ.) τερηδόνα

Italiano (Italian)
carie

Português (Portuguese)
n. - cárie (f)

Русский (Russian)
кариес, кариоз

Español (Spanish)
n. - caries

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - karies, benröta

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
龋, 骨溃疡

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 齲, 骨潰瘍

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 카리에스, 충치

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - カリエス, 齲食, 虫歯

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) تسوس, , نخر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮ריקבון, עששת‬

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