All About Tooth Decay

In order for tooth decay to develop in a tooth, that tooth must first have two things present:

1. Acid producing bacteria
2. Food for the bacteria to feed upon

Teeth that are the most susceptible to decay have been de-mineralized. De-mineralized essentially means that some of the minerals in the tooth enamel – like calcium, magnesium, zinc and fluoride – have been leached out, thereby “de-glazing’ the enamel.

This leaves the enamel quite porous, which in turn allows acids and bacteria even greater access to the inner tooth.

This de-mineralization is due to a combination of constant exposure to acids in the foods and drinks consumed, as well as the acids produced by staff bacteria in the mouth as waste by-products as they consume the residual food debris left in the mouth after a meal.

So clearly, knowing the “cycle of decay” as you now do, you’ll understand how poor hygiene habits will allow the plaque and tartar to build up around teeth and speed up the process of decay.

Even though your mouth has a lot of bacteria that is always present, only one type will generate the acid that results in tooth decay.

Once the decay has settled in the tooth’s enamel, it may progress very slowly. Or, it could move at an astonishing rate.

This is primarily dependent on the general health of the host, the daily nutritional intake and, of course, the oral hygiene regimen.

Once the decay has made it through to the second layer below the enamel, called dentin, it will spread faster as it heads towards the pulp.

The pulp is the vital area of the tooth, as it contains the nerve and blood supply. This is where the pain will be the most intense, as the byproducts of the decay will begin to irritate and inflame the nerve tissue.

Although decay can take 2 – 3 years to get through the enamel, it can make it from the dentin to the pulp in less than a year. Once it makes it to the dentin, the decay can destroy most of the tooth structure in a matter of weeks – or months.

The most preventable type of tooth decay, known as smooth-surface decay, also grows the slowest. It starts out as a white spot in the tooth, where the bacteria dissolves the enamel. Smooth-surface decay is very common with those 20 – 30 years of age.

Pit or fissure decay is a bit more serious, forming along the narrow grooves in the chewing side of the molars. It progresses more rapidly, and can eat your teeth a lot faster than smooth-surface decay.

Due to the grooves being so narrow, it can be hard to clean them with regular bushing. Even though you may brush on a regular basis, this type of decay is hard to prevent without going to the dentist for your regular checkups and cleaning.

This is why pit and fissure sealants were invented quite some time ago. They use long-lasting, modern materials to seal the bacteria out of those natural grooves and fissures in the molars that are too narrow for tooth brush bristles to fit into.

The last type of decay, known as root decay, begins on the surface of the root. Root decay is common with middle aged individuals. It is normally the result of dry mouth, a lot of sugar, or not taking care of your teeth. Root decay is the most difficult to prevent, and the most serious type of tooth decay. It can eat teeth fast, leaving you no choice but to get the affected teeth removed.

Tooth decay is no laughing matter, and should always be treated before it has time to spread and affect more of your teeth.

If you visit your dentist for your regular checkups and cleaning, you can normally prevent it from starting.

You should always brush and floss on a daily basis. You can also use mouthwash such as Scope or Listerine to kill bacteria if you like. But flush again several times with plain water after using an alcohol-based mouthwash, because over time, the alcohol can damage and dry-out tissue.

Bacteria is always present in your mouth. And while you can use mouthwash to kill it, you can also remove the vast majority of it by simply flushing your mouth vigorously with water after eating.

If you take care of your teeth and follow the advice of your dentist, you can normally prevent tooth decay well before it has a chance to eat at your teeth.

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