Two of your worst enemies could be lurking around in your mouth as you read this. They are serious, vicious, sly and oftentimes successful. So, who makes up this evil pair? Tooth decay and gum disease. That’s right. These two nasty conditions are created by naturally occurring oral bacteria, and the acids they produce. Unchecked tooth decay leads inevitably to gum disease, which even conservative estimates say is present in at least 80% of the population. Gum disease, in turn, is responsible for up to 70% of adult tooth loss.

Your mouth’s constant supply of normal bacteria produces a sticky “plaque” and they deposit it on your teeth. Foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) combined with the plaque form a strong acid.  If the tooth is exposed to an acidic environment long enough, the tooth enamel starts to loose minerals in a process called de-mineralization.  Saliva slowly neutralises the acidity in the mouth and restores it to its natural balance.  When the tooth's environment becomes non-acidic, the reverse process of re-mineralization begins.  This natural tooth enamel restoration process repairs the enamel using minerals such as calcium from the saliva and fluoride from toothpastes and fluoridated drinking water.  If the two processes are balanced, then any damage to the tooth enamel is totally repaired.  In the process of tooth decay, this delicate balance is lost as the increase intensity and frequency of acid from decay producing bacteria does not allow enough time to repair and restore tooth enamel through re-mineralization.  The result is erosion of your enamel and break-down of gum-tooth connecting fibers, thus allowing further bacteria and toxins to invade unprotected tissues. This process allows your tooth, tooth root and susceptible jawbone to become damaged or even destroyed by decay.

So, let’s stop these culprits in their tracks. Make it a daily habit to brush twice with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth with floss or inter-dental cleaner. Also, cut down on snacking; eat nutritious, well-balanced meals and remember to visit us regularly for a professional cleaning and oral examination.

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