You probably know tooth decay as dental cavities, and your dentist may refer to it as dental caries. But no matter what you call it, you don't want to get it.

Tooth decay is an oral disease that destroys your teeth, and in its early stages it's not easy to detect. Yet once it gets a hold of your teeth, tooth decay will put you in a win or lose battle for your dental health!

Second only to the common cold, tooth decay affects the majority of the population, with children and seniors most at risk. A health problem of epic proportions, over 90 percent of Americans have experienced a dental cavity at some point in their lives, and tooth decay is a major cause of tooth loss.

In order to understand why we get tooth decay and how we can prevent it, you need to know how it's formed. Tooth decay results from a buildup of dental plaque bacteria in our mouths. Dental plaque is a sticky, film-like substance that constantly forms on teeth and harbors bacteria. You may not be able to see these organisms, but they pack a powerful punch -- when they meet with starchy or sugary foods, they produce acids that attack teeth.

If the dental plaque is not removed, it turns into dental tartar, or dental calculus, a hardened deposit of dental plaque on teeth and beneath the gum line. The problem is, you can't remove dental tartar on your own, no matter how hard you brush. And so the cycle continues: Dental tartar becomes a breeding ground for even more dental plaque bacteria, which continues to produce the acids that attack teeth. Eventually this breaks down tooth enamel, leading to the holes in teeth known as tooth decay.

Once tooth decay enters the ring, there's no turning back. The tooth decay process starts by dissolving the outside enamel and working its way in. Untreated tooth decay will attack the dentin as it moves towards the center of the tooth, eventually reaching the pulp. Once the infection infiltrates the pulp, it can destroy the nerve. When that happens, a root canal is often needed to save the tooth from dying and requiring a tooth extraction.

Once you get tooth decay, your teeth will be down for the count. The only way to stop it is with professional dental treatment. Hopefully, your tooth decay will be diagnosed early enough to be replaced with a dental filling. The less tooth decay, the smaller the dental filling. Your dentist will start by drilling the contaminated area, and will reconstruct your tooth with an amalgam or composite filling. If the dental cavity is too large to fill, a cap or dental crown may be necessary.

Often when we are sick, we experience symptoms that alert us we're in harm's way. In this case, sensitive teeth may be a sign of a dental cavity. After tooth decay destroys the enamel and exposes the dentin, the tooth can become sensitive to hot or cold. A toothache is usually a sign of a large cavity or decay that has progressed to the center of the tooth. But if you don't feel any discomfort, it doesn't mean you're in the clear: Tooth decay is usually painless, and may not produce any signals until it has damaged a significant part of your tooth.

The lack of symptoms makes it extremely important to see a dentist every six months. Dentists check for signs of tooth decay during regular dental visits -- a probe is used to check for soft spots where the enamel has weakened. Because the early stages of tooth decay are almost impossible to notice with the naked eye, dental X-rays are needed for a proper diagnosis. X-rays are also perfect for locating dental cavities between teeth and finding dental tartar beneath the gum line.

Tooth decay can affect anyone, at any time. But it is a greater epidemic in young children. Fluoride and dental sealants are commonly used to help those who can't help themselves. Fluoride strengthens teeth and is often added to toothpaste and public water supplies. Fluoride has even been known to reverse the process of tooth decay in its early stages. Dental sealants are a clear, plastic coating that are applied to molars to prevent dental plaque from forming on teeth. Combining these preemptive plans with dental education is important in the fight against children's dental cavities and tooth decay prevention.

Tooth decay may sound scary, but you actually have many tools to defend yourself against it -- and you can win! Oral hygiene is the first step towards stopping tooth decay: Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste will help remove dental plaque, and flossing daily will help keep tooth decay from forming between your teeth. A balanced, low-sugar diet is also essential in protecting yourself against dental cavities and tooth decay prevention.

Dental checkups are a crucial weapon in the battle to stop tooth decay. So even if your teeth look and feel fine, be sure to schedule an appointment for an exam -- the longer you wait to have a tooth filled, the more painful your dental problems can become later. After all, dentists are on your side, and they want to see you defeat this silent tooth killer!