A hard, outer surface that dentists call enamel protects our teeth. When they eat healthy food, & brush & floss regularly, this enamel ought to theoretically last us for our lifetimes. Regrettably, unwise eating has broken down Brother Nature’s ideal model. These days our enamel can often no longer withstand the strains that they place on it when this barrier fails us, illness enters, dental decay follows, & then cavities form.

Plaque, Tooth Decay & Cavities:

The main threat to our tooth enamel is the plaque that builds up on our teeth. Plaque is initially invisible, & soft at first to be removed by brushing & flossing, or basically eating something crunchy like a stick of celery, an apple, or a raw carrot. When this does not happen, the plaque layer hardens like cement, & tiny bacteria take shelter in it. These bacteria release acids, which dissolve our tooth enamel, & then eat away at the bone beneath it that forms our precious teeth.

Historically, our ancestors followed healthier diets, thus the natural power of their saliva was potent to limit this effect, & help their tooth enamel to restore itself. These days, regrettably, our diets are far richer in sugars including fructose, glucose & sucrose  sugar being the natural food of the bacteria that live in plaque. Additional sugar gives them the power to overcome our saliva, destroy our tooth enamel, & start rotting our teeth away.

Although, if they lower our sugar intake, it is still feasible that our saliva can restore our tooth enamel, the decay method may continue unabated underneath. This is why it is so important to pay regular visits to a dentist  ask them for advice on the frequency of your visits, because this will be contingent on the condition of your teeth. As the bacteria continue to work away unseen, what was one time a tiny cavity grows bigger as the decay works deeper down towards the living part of the tooth, known as the pulp. This is where sensitive nerve-endings become exposed to heat & chilled, & send back sometimes excruciating sensations of pain. If still nothing is done to cease the method, then the bacteria finally cause an abscess in the root tip, which can be the beginning of the finish of life for that tooth.

Chipping  Another Cause for Tooth Decay:

Chipping of enamel is another way for bacteria to enter the core bone that is our teeth. This can be the finish result of an unfortunate accident, but is more often the result of cracking peppermints, or biting down on something hard. One time chipped, the bacteria break through the damaged enamel, & the same method follows.

Caring for your Teeth:

Maintaining healthy teeth in their original condition is not difficult, provide that the following rules are observed:

  Think before you bite on something hard

 Brush & floss after every meal

  Visit your dentist as often as they recommend

 Cut down on sugary foods & drinks, & rinse afterwards