What is dental decay (cavities) and how is it treated?
Dental decay is the removal of minerals from the structure of the tooth by acids. The acids can come from foods which contain acidic components like lemonade (ascorbic acid) or soda pop (phosphoric acid), but more likely are produced by the bacteria residing in our mouths. As minerals are removed from the enamel of the tooth, a white-spot lesion often occurs, called demineralization or incipient decay by your dentist. At this early stage of a cavity, the decay process can be stopped by thorough homecare and extra fluoride such as a home fluoride rinse. As the decay progresses, the area becomes brown, then black. By this time the tooth structure is so weakened that it frequently collapses, resulting in large areas of missing tooth structure. Even if the tooth appears intact on the surface, a dental exam with x-rays will often detect areas of a tooth where, unseen, below the surface, the tooth has been seriously damaged. To treat decay, the dentist removes the damaged and destroyed porti
