What Causes Tooth Decay?

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What Causes Tooth Decay?
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Most adults are aware that tooth decay causes
cavities, but are not as clear on what causes
tooth decay. Your teeth first start to become
decayed through a process called
demineralization. This means that an acidic
condition inside of the mouth pulls mineral
content out of the calcified tissue of the teeth,
which are its dentin and enamel.
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The acids that contribute to demineralization are
bacterial waste that live within dental plaque.
The bacteria that causes tooth decay are living
organisms that are mainly present in dietary
sugars. These include fructose, lactose, glucose,
sucrose, and all cooked starches.
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Keep Bacteria at Bay by Reducing Dental
PlaqueDental plaque is the formation of sticky
deposits on teeth that allow bacteria to form and
produce waste products that eat away at the
teeth. It can form over time when you neglect to
brush and floss your teeth regularly. Consuming
an unhealthy diet can also lead to plaque forming
on your teeth.
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If you already have a large build-up of plaque,
you may want to consider having Dr. Madhuri
Vanama of Discovery Dental perform deep cleaning
on your top and bottom rows of teeth. Since this
reduces the plaque present in your mouth, it also
decreases the likelihood of bacterial waste
causing tooth decay.
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Best Practices for Avoiding Tooth DecayAfter
you eat a meal or snack high in sugar, oral
bacteria forms within minutes and produces the
acids that eventually lead to tooth decay. Here
are some steps you can take to prevent that from
happening
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1. Replace natural sugars with artificial
sweeteners.2. Brush and floss as soon as soon as
possible after consuming sugar. If it will be
several hours before you are able to do this, at
least rinse your mouth with water.3. If you must
consume sugary foods and drinks, do so as quickly
as possible. Prolonging the process only exposes
your teeth to a higher risk of decay.
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4. Brush and floss your teeth a minimum of twice
per day or preferably after every meal. Use an
angled toothbrush to reach the back teeth that
can be difficult to clean and be sure to use
medicated mouthwash as well.5. Keep your
bi-annual dental cleaning appointment. This gives
Dr. Vanama the opportunity to detect problems
with tooth decay as soon as possible.
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Please dont hesitate to contact Discovery Dental
if you have additional questions about preventing
tooth decay. http//discoverydentalwa.com