AY 2022-23

DE TAL CARIES
AND ITS CARE

INVESTIGATIVE
PROJECT
Done By
Sravan VS

THE PSBB MILLENNIUM SCHOOL - GERUGAMBAKKAM

 BONAFIDE
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Biology project titled.

"Dental Caries and its Care" is a bonafide work
carried out by Sravan of class 11A of THE PSBB
MILLENNIUM SCHOOL, GERUGAMBAKKAM during the
year 2022-23 in partial fulfilment of the requirements
of CBSE for Senior Secondary Practical Examination.

...................................... ..........................................
Teacher in Charge Principal

...................................... .............................
Teacher in Charge Date
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express a deep sense of thanks & gratitude to my

Biology teacher Mrs. Deepa Menon for guiding me immensely
through the course of the project. Her constructive advice &
constant motivation have been responsible for the successful
completion of this project. I am thankful to my School Principal,
Mrs. Bhavani Baskar for providing us with this great platform to
perform.

Special thanks to my classmates and friends who gave their honest

responses to my survey which was the backbone of my project. I
would also like to thank my fellow teammates Sanjay N, Akshay EV,
Saravanakarthick and Krithika for putting in their effort to make this
project successful.

Secondly, I’d want to thank my parents who have helped me with

their valuable suggestions in various phases of the completion of
the project.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to to Dr. Pradeep for

devoting his valuable time for my project. I would also like to
convey our gratitude to the organization and the Central Board of
Secondary Education for providing a great opportunity to
investigate and learn a lot. I also pray to god as without him we are
nothing.
INDEX
1. Introduction 1

2. Composition of toothpaste 2

3. Aim of the Experiment 4

4. Materials and Method 5

5. Interview with Dr Pradeep 6

6. Observation 7

7. Social Impact 12

8. Biblography 13

 INTRODUCTION
Dental caries (also known as tooth decay or
dental cavities) is the most common
noncommunicable disease worldwide. Dental
caries is a common chronic infectious resulting
from tooth-adherent cariogenic bacteria,
primarily Streptococcus Mutans, which
metabolizes sugars to produce acid,
demineralizing the tooth structure over time.
Severe dental caries affects general health and
often causes pain and infection, which may result
in tooth extraction.

It is one of the prime causative

agents of oral discomfort and
reason for patients to visit dental
clinics or hospitals. If detected
timely, the tooth can be restored
and if left untreated it can
eventually lead to tooth loss or
other serious sequelae.

There is a high prevalence of dental caries in India which can be

attributed to low public health awareness concerning oral health.
Knowledge regarding proper oral hygiene is also a contributing factor.

01
 COMPOSITION OF
TOOTH PASTE

Water (20 - 40 %) Abrasives (50%) - They are the

Fluoride(usually 1450 ppm) -
They are mainly in the form of
sodium fluoride, Stannous
fluoride, and sodium
monofluorophosphate. It’s the
most important component in
the paste to prevent carries
cleaning and polishing agents
in toothpaste. They remove
stains, debris, and plaque. they
includechemicals such as
aluminum hydroxide,
calcium/hydrogen phosphates,
calcium carbonate, silica, and
magnesium carbonate

How does fluoride in toothpaste help?

Tooth enamel, which is the outer covering of the teeth, is made up of a compound
called hydroxyapatite. When we eat compounds that have carbohydrates or sugar,
bacteria present in our teeth, secrete acids that attack the enamel. In this process, the
calcium and phosphate minerals are lost from the tooth enamel. This process is called
demineralization. Once the acid attack is paused, the calcium and phosphate present
In the Saliva go deposit themselves in the enamel again and this process is known as
remineralization. Fluoride is very important in this process. When fluoride is in your
mouth it goes into the enamel during remineralization and forms a new cavity-fighting
compound called fluorapatite which resists decay more efficiently.

Flavourants - They help Antibacterial agents - They

provide taste to the help in controlling the growth
toothpaste . Some common of bacteria in the enamel.They
flavours are spearmint, are made of compounds such
peppermint, and wintergreen as triclosan or zinc chloride.

02
COMPOSITION OF
TOOTH PASTE
Detergents - They create the
foaming action in the
toothpaste. They are mainly
sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)
with concentration ranges of
0.5–2%.
contains hydroxyapatite
Humectants - They are the
compounds that prevent the
paste from drying out in the
tube. Humectants include
glycerol, xylitol, sorbitol,
polyethylene glycol, and
propylene glycol
Antisensitivity agents -They
are present in sensitivity
toothpastes and they are
usuallystrontium chloride and
potassium nitrate or arginine
Remineralizers - The process
by which the calcium and
phosphate In The Saliva go
deposit themselves in the
enamel again is known as
remineralization. Toothpaste
nanoparticles and calcium
phosphate as Remineralizers
Anticalculus agents - They
help remove hardened plaque
called Tartar. They have
compounds such as sodium
polyphosphate or zinc citrate.
Pyrophosphate and Zinc
citrate
03
 BIOLOGY IP

AIM OF THE
EXPERIMENT
To study about Dental Health
and Hygiene by surveying the
15-17 year age group

-Benjamin Franklin

04
MATERIALS
AND METHODS

PROCEDURE

The purpose of this study is to assess the

knowledge and awareness about dental caries
among our Age Group. A cross-sectional self-
administered questionnaire survey was
conducted to assess the knowledge about dental
caries and brushing pattern in the age group of
15-17 years. A total of 150 members were
included in this study.

SURVEY UNDERTAKEN
A survey was taken among teenagers of age
group 15-17 to estimate dental cavities and the
brushing pattern. 150 Members took this survey
and the results and observations are added in the
folowing pages.

05
 INTERVIEW WITH
DR PRADEEP
Interviewee - Dr. Pradeep
Senior Dental Surgeon, Member of Indian Dental Association.

Interviewed by Sanjay N
Google Meet

I spoke with Dr. Pradeep, Dental Surgeon via Google meet about the
growing Dental Problems among teenage groups. We spoke about his
influence in his dental career and what surprised him among middle-aged
children and shared various tips for the younger generation to take care
of their dental health and how it influences their overall health.

When you decided on a career in healthcare, what influenced your choice of becoming a dentist and not
a medical or veterinarian professional?
After my school I chose dentistry because i can restore the oral health and transform the lives of patients.
Whether it is providing preventative care, delivering dental restorative procedures, eliminating pain or
correcting dento-facial esthetics, often in a single visit, the dentist can experience the satisfaction,
privilege and joy of positively transforming a patient’s life by restoring oral health.

In your expanded dental career, what do you observe as the problem with most of the patients Doctor?
Why is that so?
he most common problems the patients come for are dental cavity ,tooth sensitivity, bad breath, for
proper alignment of teeth & replacement of teeth.

How does your approach to oral health relate to patients’ overall health Doctor?
Many general health conditions have symptoms in the oral cavity , like if you have diabetes the gums will
be swollen , poor oral health may lead to cardiac problems , so by early detection of symptoms in oral
health we can improve the general health of patients .

What issues do the elderly face in terms of oral health care doctor, these days, even children are facing
the same at a very young age. Your thoughts about it doctor?
Elederly patients often complain about sharp tooth ,missing tooth, sensitivity , tooth mobility which can be
easily corrected by dentist. Children too face dental cavites due to irregular diet and high chocolate in
take. Children should take good care of oral health as it will help to prevent lot of problem at older age.

Your personal tips for the upcoming generation regarding their Dental Health Doctor?
The upcoming generation must visit dentist atleast once a year , they must reduce sugar intake , if they
find anythig abnormal in oral cavity they must immediately vist dentist , also most of the children have
teeth aligment problem and it should be corrected by braces.

06
 OBSERVATION
A survey was conducted among the students in the age group of 15-17 years and the
collected data was used to study dental practices among teenagers as an initiative to
spread awareness about Dental caries among the growing population. The only criterion
that was emphasized was the Age Group (15-17 years). The participants of this survey were
chosen by Random Selection Method. We have got responses on the leverage of our
personal networks and contacts.

A total of 150 members were included in this study only among the
15-18 age group.
84 Boys and 66 Girls took part in this survey.

Boy (56%) Girl (44%)

Total 150 Members

1. Preference of Toothpaste:
Factors affecting choice of toothpaste

Himalayas 14 62.4 %
Fluoride Content -
Previous Experience - 69.3%
Sensodyne
Dentist Advice - 55.0%
Advertisement 29.2%
Pepsodent 9

Dabur 23 Media advertisement was the least

influential in their choice of toothpaste
Vicco (29.2%) Consideration for fluoride was a
stronger factor than herbal contents in the
Patanjali choice of toothpaste.

Colgate 68
13.50%
28.9%
0 25 50 75

25.50%

From the survey, we have observed that

roughly 45% of the responders are using
32.10%
Colgate and 15% using Dabur toothpaste.
Other toothpastes are also used in fewer
numbers. Also, Colgate toothpaste contains
Flouride must be noted.

07
 2. Brushing Time 9% 20.50%
29%
From the survey, we can observe that
73.3% of the students take 2-4 minutes to
brush their teeth which is the preferred
time according to American Dental 78%
Association. One fifth of the people take
only less than 2 minutes which is not
enough to remove the plaque on your
teeth.

Recommended Brushing time 2-3 minutes

3. Usage of Special toothpaste

I DONT USE Tooth Whitening Sensitivity Dental Paste Herbal Paste

No of people 106 8 16 9 11

Percentage 70.6 0.05 0.1 0.06 0.07

Sensitivity - Over 78% of the responders use Sensodyne.

YES! Researchers in Italy recently confirmed it. The outermost layer of your teeth wears
out which exposes tiny tubes containing nerve fibers, says study author Claudio Poggio,
M.D., D.D.S. He and his team found that Sensodyne Repair and Protect almost completely
fills those tubes, blocking your nerves from pain as a result. Plus, minerals in the paste
help repair the collagen network that protects teeth from further damage, he says.

4. Flouride Toothpaste
We came to know the importance of Flouride
Yes it contains in our toothpaste. But so many children are
not aware of whether their toothpaste
9 contains fluoride or not. It's very important to
No it doesnt
know the composition of the toothpaste we
use. Fluoride protects teeth against decay by
Not Sure helping strengthen developing enamel and
slowing the acid production of bacteria
0 25 50 75 caused by plaque.

08
 5. Food habits and their Impact

A peak in the red bar for all types of foods tells us that, most of the students prefer eating
those types of food which is not good for our teeth. Tooth decay happens when plaque
comes into contact with sugar in the mouth, causing acid to attack the teeth. The foods you
choose and how often you eat them can affect your general health and the health of your
teeth and gums, too. If you consume too many sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks, or
non-nutritious snacks, you could be at risk for tooth decay.
Only 12.5% of the responders eat food that is healthy for their teeth.

6. Frequency of Brushing and other Habits

Never Once More than once
125
✓ ✓
100
✓
75
✓
50

25

0
Brushing Using Dental Floss Clean your Tongue Rinse your Mount

From14the survey it's happy

9 to see, nobody skips brushing their teeth. But 55% of students only
brush their teeth only once a day. It's advisable to brush 2 times a day. Most people don't use
dental floss. It's necessary to clean your tongue because it's a part that moves the food inside
your body and can become a major place for infection if not cleaned properly. And is very
important to rinse your mouth 3 times a day after eating and happy to observe most of them
doing it. Twice-daily brushing is recommended by most dentists in order to improve plaque
control, since most patients are not able to achieve sufficient plaque removal by performing
oral hygiene measures at home (24). In this study, majority of the students (45.9%) brushed
twice daily

09
 7. Dental Caries

✓ ✘

Has Dental Caries Proper Brushing Time 73.3 26.7

Flouride Toothpaste 92.1 7.9

Doesn't have Proper food Habits 46.25 53.75

Perfection in Cleaning
90 10
0 20 40 60 Habits

From the table, people lack eating proper food which is good for their Dental Health.
So 75.41% {(73.3+92.1+46.25+90)/4} of the responders take care of their teeth properly.
The overall pooled prevalence of dental caries was found to be 42.6%. The pooled
prevalence was high with Boys (53%), and a low prevalence was found with Girls
(47%). Moreover, the subgroup analysis revealed a prevalence of 78% dental caries in
frequent snacking and 41.3% dental caries found in people who doesn't clean their
teeth properly. Being female and having poor tooth brushing habit were independent
risk factors of dental caries.

Proper Using Flouride Proper Perfection in

Brushing Time Toothpaste Food Habits Cleaning Habits

DENTAL CARIES

0 20 40 60 75.41 80

8. Sensitivity
The prevalence of sensitive teeth analyzed from68the responses of 150 participants was
47.1%. The final analysis from the survey showed significant statistical associations between
sensitive teeth and female gender, tooth caries, consumption of soft drinks and poor oral
hygiene habits
47.1% of the students have felt pain / sensation after eating specific cool/hot food. In other
words they have sensitivity.
14
Tooth sensitivity, or “dentin hypersensitivity,” is exactly what it sounds like: pain or
discomfort in the teeth as a response to certain stimuli, such as hot or cold temperatures.

Reason - From Graph 5, most of the students in this age

group take spicy / cold / sticky food which makes tooth’s
enamel to worn down. This causes sensitivity

10
 9. Dental Problem history
Out of 150 students responded, we have
59.5%
observed that, students who claim to have
dental problems have also responded that
their parents too have dental problems.

This paved a new perespective into dental problems. Your parents oral
health can impact you and your oral health can impact your children too.
When are you at risk of oral health issues because of genes? Well, find out if
your blood relation has any history of the following conditions - Gum disease,
tooth decay, Weak teeth, Oral Cancer, Crooked teeth and color of your teeth.

10. Frequency of Visiting Dentist for specific Problems -

In a year, one-fourth of the students

visit the dentist for cavity problems.
Most of the students who attended this
survey don't visit the survey though
they have dental problems. It's
advisable to visit the dentist once a year
for a regular checkup

11. How often during the last year, have

68 you had discomfort in the
following parts of your mouth?

From the graph, the green 23 bar is small

14
in the sensitivity9part of the survey.
This tells us most of the students
experience sensitivity other than other
problems. We can conclude that
sensitivity is a common problem
among teenagers compared to other
discomforts

11
 SOCIAL IMPACT
ON RESEARCH ABOUT DENTAL CARIES

Epidemiology and Risk Factors - Sugar Market

The sugar market is one of the main factors for the high
prevalence of caries in children. With more and more
people consuming sugary and Starchy food the risk of
people developing cavities is continuously increasing.
Usage of fluorides
The Other main factor is the usage of fluorides. We have
already seen how fluoride toothpaste helps to suppress
cavities. Hence it is no surprise that the usage of fluoride
toothpaste is one of the biggest reasons for the decline of
cavities at the end of the 20th century. But despite this,
carries remains one of the most prevalent non-
communicable diseases of all time

Dental caries affects body weight, growth, and quality of life in children
Dental cavities play a big role in affecting body weight and growth in children. It has been
reported that children who have not been treated for childhood carries have significantly
lower dental health when compared to the quality of life of children without dental caries.
It has been reported that Children with severe dental caries weigh less than what they should
be at that age. And after treatment for their decayed teeth, show rapid weight gain and
improvements in their quality of life. This is because the dietary intake improves as pain affects
the quantity of food taken.

Through our investigatory project, we can analyze the statistics of dental

caries. we could see how different factors affect dental health in teens.
Through our project, we want to spread awareness about dental caries
among teenagers. We want to highlight the importance of oral health. Small
factors such as how many minutes you brush your teeth, what toothpaste
you should use, and certain habits that you might have that negatively
impact your oral health, play a major importance in affecting your oral
health.

12
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Does Sensodyne Toothpaste Really Work -
Posted by DrMangigian
Websites -
Americal Dental Association - https://www.ada.org/
https://en.pimg.jp/048/916/400/1/48916400.jpg
Composition of toothpaste from
https://www.youtube.com/c/AmericanDentalAssoc
Graphics - https://canva.com/graphical-elements
https://www.sciencedirect.com/
Researched from
https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/health-daily-
care/dental-care/tooth-decay
https://mydentalplan.in/
Introduction to Dental Caries -
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ - Published by Manu
Rathee; Amit Sapra.
https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/fast-facts/index.html

13
Survey Response:
Really Good Initiative, will be happy if
Survey Response:
this reaches all and has a good social Absolutely necessary to know about
impact.. Well done boys !! dental hygiene.

Survey Response: Thank Survey Response:

!you !
made me think about dental health.
Good. Student actually searched up stuff after this.
engagement has
improved this servey a
lot. Survey Response:
Helped me to know about my
oral status

14