" when we describe this to young children , it allows me to predict when might be their new caries histories - the size of mucous that they ' ll buy by , say , their late 20s or early 30s , " explains researcher john campbell . using the decay observation and risk evaluation ( care ) test , the test considers the relative proportions in saliva of different groups of protein chains called oligosaccharides . the same sugar chains are present on tooth surfaces .
A test can predict cavities.