What causes tooth decay?

What causes tooth decay?

What is it that lives on our teeth, gums, and tongue? Microbes! These microbes can be good or bad and the bad ones can cause tooth decay. There are many types of bacteria that cause tooth decay; these can be Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, and Lactobacillus. This is not at all exaggerated: as soon as we eat something, our bad, tiny microbes start to initiate a fierce battle in our mouths.

The bacteria use every bit of leftover foods and drinks that contain sugar or starch as ingredients to produce acids that can eat away the tooth's hardest surface, the enamel. The wound in the tooth that we've noticed as the dental cavity and the surrounding devastating, sticky, transparent film of microbes as dental plaque.

Battling the destruction the microbes have brought, is the minerals in our saliva, consisting of mainly Calcium and Phosphate. Together with Flouride from the toothpaste, water, and other sources, the saliva remineralises the damaged enamel after each acid attack.

This battle of scraping minerals away and cementing it back to enamel is always happening at any time for as long as the person is alive. A constant acid attack, however, may overburden the ability of saliva to heal the tooth.

This means that the frequent eating and drinking of sugar and starch that we all love, arms the bacteria to defeat the good guy, saliva. The rate of recovery of the enamel will be outrun by the repeated cycles of acid damage done to it, hence causing it to lose minerals. An early sign of decay may show in the form of a white spot where the mineral is lacking.

If action is taken at this point, by supplying enough minerals and Fluoride, the enamel can still repair itself and the decay can be stopped or even reversed. But if we keep consuming sugar and starch mindlessly, more minerals will be lost and the decay process will continue beyond repair. The enamel will be weakened and eventually destroyed, forming a dental cavity.

To save the damaged tooth, we require the help of a dentist to fill the hole with materials such as composite resin. Tooth decay can be avoided by eating or drinking less sugar and starches. Frequent use of fluoride-containing mouthwashes, gels, toothpaste, and tablets will also fortify the enamel. This is why it's important to brush our teeth twice a day!

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Timestamp:

00:00 Tooth decay
00:26 How does tooth decay happen?
01:46 Early signs of decay
01:52 Treatment
02:26 Prevention

[FME]

But take a closer look at your toothbrush bristles, the paste and how hard you brush because they can be abrasive and damaging toward your enamel and gum too if not careful


Newest study on this:

[neilghosh]

I am quitting sugar. Had 4 cavities. Lost one tooth, had 2 root canals on two of them and 1 other cavity. Take this seriously. Floss before brushing your teeth, use interdental brushes, use the right technique as well man brushing your teeth(or get an electric one) and use mouthwash daily.
Take care.

[orkhanalikhanov]

That's it, I am going to brush my teeth everyday from now on

[xxxjenelxxx]

I am starting to have tooth decay and I’m 11...I went through a stage of life where I refused to brush my teeth and now I regret it....i need to get my teeth back in shape before they fall out 😭

[Lovebond]

I just brushed my teeth after watching this

[CF-yrdm]

Only twice a day? Here in my country the recommendation is brush after everytime you eat.

[creative_whizkid]

I brush everyday at least once and floss almost everyday, yet I still get super paranoid when it comes to tooth decay/dental problems.

[mummydaughtervlogs]

Im lazy so i didnt brush my teeth for DAYS and from now on im gonna brush my teeth everyday

[thisoldtooth]

Inevitably, we don’t live in a sterile environment and even the most diligent among us can sometimes, well break the “rules”. One of the key actions you can take personally to not develop cavities is through regular brushing and flossing yourself. Not only will you help prevent the spread of cavities, but you’ll be setting a good example of oral care for your family and friends! - Dr. Lisa Germain (sending full support) 🦷🦷👋

[ciphersage]

OMG, living is so difficult, need to take care of a of things.

[siblingfacerevealyears]

You usually have streptococcus, peptostreptococcus in your mouths. In very rare cases it can enter the bloodstream and then Ludwig angina occurs, necrotizing fasciitis occurs too. If untreated it can cause tooth decay, swelling and a strep throat. This mostly happens if you have a tooth abscess, a tooth abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. I know someone who had something called necrotizing fasciitis and Ludwig angina, This guy named Peter Haggerty, in Peter’s case he had a infected tooth that let the bacteria get in the tooth and up the pulp. His dentist completely failed him, he almost died from having too much necrotic tissue. But the doctors were nice enough to save his life. What makes the streptococcus, peptostreptococcus bacteria so dangerous is that if it’s untreated the kidneys can inflame and they have a shield that is hard for the immune system to detect as a threat. They have a cloaking device too, that cloaking device helps them multiply. As they multiply they can release harmful toxins. Doctors most often prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin for streptococcus or a strep throat. The infection can spread down to your chest and infect vital organs. Streptococcus can eat food from your tooth and clean it off but it can cause tooth decay. Hope this is enough! Stay safe!❤

[estephaniey]

I used to rinse my mouth with water after brushing my teeth until my dentist told me thats a no go since I'm basically rinsing off the fluoride

[Local_Adny]

Alright I’m brushing my teeth 5 times a day now, I don’t want the bacteria to win

[kukifitte]

Came here because I noticed my teeth got significantly whiter once I quit all sugars and junkfood out completely.

[hollycox]

I’m studying dentistry! This help, thank you.

[pzjv_]

Tysm y’all made it easier for me to understand this topic in my igcse

[Cannonball.]

Brush gently and regularly before it gets too late. In my case i have cavity in 3 teeth after which i got filling but after several months the filling came out. Now i am suffering from pain i use to eat food by only one side. Even water touches the decay tooth it feels pain.

[lukavojinovic]

I keep getting them and I try to take care of my teeth as much as possible, I’m tired...

[dannichoi]

I am watching this after being diagnosed with 16 cavities from not brushing enough not flossing or using mouthwash. I have made a pact to take care of my health diligently because once I saw the bill I was really disappointed. We save money by taking care of ourselves.

[muhammadakmal]

informative and helpful video


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