Colgate discusses the current picture of active caries in dental patients, the risk factors and how it can be prevented.
Dental caries is still a problem, with 27% of adults presenting with obvious caries, with an average of 2.1 teeth affected (Public Health England, 2020), and 33% of children presenting with obvious caries, with an average of 3.5 teeth affected (OHID, 2020; OHID, 2022; NHS England, 2015).
The level or combination of risk factors determines the risk of future caries. Risk factors can include:
CariesCare International promotes a patient centred risk-based approach to caries management, the CariesCare Practice Guide: A 4D process to help prevent and control caries (CariesCare, 2020).
Download the CariesCare Guide* adapted to help you deliver UK evidence-based caries care for your patients.
Assess caries-risk at both patient and tooth level, and consider protecting them in-office and at-home with the Colgate Duraphat range†,^,**. Colgate Duraphat is the only complete and clinically-proven high-fluoride range, medicinally licensed to prevent, control and arrest caries (Baysan et al, 2001; Schirrmeister et al, 2007; Ekstrand et al, 2008; Ekstrand et al, 2013).
Intended for Dental Professionals only. Click here for more information or visit for prescribing information.
Disclaimers and references
*Those with caries carry a greater caries burden with an average of 3.5 teeth affected.
†Colgate Duraphat fluoride varnish for patients three years of age and over
^Colgate Duraphat 2800 ppm high fluoride toothpaste for patients 10 years of age and over at increased caries risk
**Colgate Duraphat 5000 fluoride toothpaste for patients 16 years of age and over at increased caries risk
#Usage as according to the summary of product characteristics.
- Oral Health Survey of Adults attending dental practices, 2018. Public Health England, published 2020
- National Dental Epidemiology Programme for England, Oral health survey of three-year-old children 2020: a report on the prevalence and severity of dental decay, Public Health England
- National Dental Epidemiology Programme for England, Oral health survey of five-year-olds 2022, Office for Health Improvement & Disparities
- Child Dental Health Survey 2013, England, Wales and Northern Ireland National statistics, published 2015
- https://cariescareinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/CCI-Practice-Guide.pdf Last accessed October 2025
- Baysan A et al. Caries Res 2001;35:41-46
- Schirrmeister JF et al. Am J Dent 2007;20. 212-216
- Ekstrand et al. 2008 Gerod 2008; 25:67-75
- Ekstrand et al. Caries Res 2013;47:391–8.
This article is sponsored by Colgate.
