Dental cavities are caused by bacterial infections known in the dental profession as “carries”. Infections occur when normal, healthy bacteria in the mouth are replaced by acid-producing bacteria. This shift in bacteria is usually caused by lack of saliva, a sugary/acidic diet, or transmission through saliva.

Caries are not only treatable but also preventable. The CariFree^® Prevention system treats the infection causing bacteria before tooth decay occurs. In order to determine if caries are present in the mouth, a one-minute CariScreen test is performed using a simple cotton swab to gather a specimen from two teeth.  The CariScreen^® test then determines the level of decay-causing bacteria: low, moderate, or high risk.

The CariFree^® treatment consists of a series of CariFree^® antibacterial mouth rinses to reduce the bacterial levels on the teeth. There are two types of rinses: the CariFree^® Treatment Rinse and the CariFree^® Maintenance Rinse. The CariFree^® Treatment Rise kills the harmful bacteria on the teeth. The CariFree^® Maintenance Rinse is designed to develop an environment in the mouth, which prevents the destructive bacteria from re-establishing itself.  Removing the harmful bacteria and maintaining a bacteria free mouth greatly reduces the risk of future dental decay.