虫歯(むしば)

むしば
noun
cavity; decayed tooth; tooth decay
1. cavity; decayed tooth
A tooth damaged by decay, or the hole in a tooth caused by decay.
虫歯(むしば)がある。
I have a cavity.
虫歯(むしば)の治療(ちりょう)は痛(いた)かった。
The cavity treatment was painful.
虫歯(むしば)があるので、歯医者(はいしゃ)に行(い)かなければならない。
I have a cavity, so I have to go to the dentist.
2. tooth decay; dental caries
The condition or process of teeth decaying.
虫歯(むしば)になる。
To get a cavity.
甘(あま)いものを食(た)べすぎると虫歯(むしば)になる。
If you eat too many sweets, you'll get cavities.
子(こ)どもの頃(ころ)から歯(は)を磨(みが)く習慣(しゅうかん)をつければ、虫歯(むしば)を予防(よぼう)できる。
If you develop the habit of brushing your teeth from childhood, you can prevent cavities.

虫歯(むしば) literally means "bug tooth," reflecting the old belief that cavities were caused by worms.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 虫歯(むしば)がある (to have a cavity)
  • 虫歯(むしば)になる (to get a cavity)
  • 虫歯(むしば)を治(なお)す (to treat a cavity)
  • 虫歯(むしば)を予防(よぼう)する (to prevent cavities)

COLLOCATIONS:

  • 虫歯(むしば)の治療(ちりょう) (cavity treatment)
  • 虫歯(むしば)予防(よぼう) (cavity prevention)

RELATED VOCABULARY:

  • 歯(は): Tooth
  • 歯医者(はいしゃ): Dentist
  • 歯磨(はみが)き: Tooth brushing
  • 歯科(しか): Dentistry

The medical term for tooth decay is 齲歯(うし) or 齲蝕(うしょく), but 虫歯(むしば) is overwhelmingly more common in everyday speech.

Related Words

Related: 歯(は) (tooth)
general
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.2.12 15:54
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