Dental caries is a ______ ______ disease.

• A. Noncommunicable degenerative
• B. Genetic
• C. Transmissible infectious
• D. Metabolic

Answer: (C)

Dental caries is an infectious, transmissible disease caused by acid-producing bacteria in dental plaque. Bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans metabolize fermentable sugars from the diet to generate acids, lowering the local pH and dissolving tooth mineral, which over time forms cavities. The disease is transmissible because these bacteria can be shared between people through saliva, meaning that a susceptible child can acquire the cariogenic microbes from caregivers or peers. While diet, oral hygiene, and fluoride influence risk, the underlying process is microbial infection of the biofilm, not a purely noncommunicable degenerative condition, not solely genetic, and not a metabolic disorder in isolation.