Definition

1. Noun:
   • Dental caries: A common disease characterized by the progressive destruction of tooth structure, starting with demineralization of the enamel and potentially leading to cavities and pulp involvement.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trẻ em ăn nhiều kẹo dễ bị sâu răng. (Children who eat a lot of candy are prone to dental caries.)
  • Bạn nên đi khám nha sĩ nếu nghi ngờ có sâu răng. (You should see a dentist if you suspect dental caries.)
  • Sâu răng gây đau nhức và khó chịu. (Dental caries causes pain and discomfort.)

Advanced Usage

• "sâu răng phát triển": caries develops/progresses.

  • Nếu không điều trị, sâu răng sẽ phát triển nhanh. (If left untreated, dental caries will progress rapidly.)

• "ngăn ngừa sâu răng": to prevent dental caries.

  • Đánh răng đúng cách giúp ngăn ngừa sâu răng. (Brushing teeth properly helps prevent dental caries.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sâu (noun, in this context): Often used colloquially to refer to the cavity or decay itself.
  • Cái răng này bị sâu. (This tooth has a cavity / is decayed.)
• Bệnh sâu răng (noun phrase): The disease of dental caries.
• Lỗ sâu răng (noun phrase): Cavity (the hole in the tooth).

Synonyms

• Bệnh sún răng: Often used for tooth decay in children, especially front teeth.
• Hư răng: Tooth decay (a more general term).
• Răng bị hư/mục: Decayed/rotten tooth.

Related Phrases

• Đau răng: Toothache (a common symptom of dental caries).
• Chữa sâu răng: To treat dental caries/to fill a cavity.
• Trám răng: To fill a tooth (a common treatment for caries).

Related Idioms

• "Sâu răng, đau bụng": Literally "dental caries, stomach ache". This idiom is used to describe minor but persistent and annoying health problems.
  • Cứ sâu răng, đau bụng lặt vặt mãi. (It's always these minor nagging problems like tooth decay and stomach aches.)

1. Dental caries