What is tooth decay?
A combination of plaque, sugar and time leads to tooth decay. The bacteria in the plaque, which sits on the tooth surface, use the sugars from our diet to produce acid. These bacteria survive well in an acidic environment and continue to produce more acid. The acids produced will dissolve the tooth surface very quickly by removing Calcium and Phosphate. These minerals are what make the tooth strong. If sugar is frequently available to the bacteria and lots of acid is being produced, the tooth surface will continually dissolve. This leads to tooth decay. If plaque from the tooth surface and sugars from the diet can be eliminated or greatly reduced, the risk of decay starting is minimised. Decay can also be stopped or reversed. This can only happen if acid production stops and the lost minerals are replaced. Lost minerals can be replaced with Fluoride and the Calcium and Phosphate in saliva. Tooth decay can be detected during a thorough dental examination and history. It is important to
Decay is the destruction of tooth structure. Decay occurs when plague, the sticky substance that forms on teeth, combines with the sugars and / or starches of the foods that we eat. This combination produces acids that attack tooth enamel. The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. Eating healthy foods and avoiding snacks and drinks that are high in sugar are also ways to prevent decay.
Decay is the destruction of tooth structure. Decay occurs when plague, the sticky substance that forms on teeth, combines with the sugars and/or starches of the foods that we eat. This combination produces acids that attack tooth enamel. The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing twice a day and flossing daily. If decay reaches the pulp of the tooth, a root canal may be necessary to save the tooth. Eating healthy foods and avoiding snacks and drinks that are high in sugar are also ways to prevent decay.
Tooth decay (the technical term is “dental caries”) is a result of bacteria found in your mouth. What happens is that the bacteria eat the sugars that are released from the foods that you consume, and the waste products of the bacteria consist of acidic compounds. These acids destroy the tooth structure, weakening it, and allowing the bacteria to spread to deeper and deeper parts of the tooth. If the decayed portions are not removed and restored, the decay will grow, eventually reaching the “nerve” of the tooth. When this occurs, you are very likely to get an abscess, which is a bacterial infection in and around your tooth and bone. If you get an abscess, a root canal will be required to remove the infection and retain the tooth.
