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Cavities Part INationwide Dental Discount Plan |
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 Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Cavities - Part I The pain will definitely tell us when we have cavities, but few of us understand why we get them in the first place.
Good Dental Hygiene and CavitiesIn order to understand everything that is involved in the making of a cavity, you've got to first understand the four key players.
Those players include:
Each of these villains resides in your mouth and is involved in the formation of a cavity! Saliva Saliva is really very important when it comes to protecting teeth and keeping our mouths healthy. Saliva keeps teeth, gums and other tissues inside the mouth lubricated and moist. Saliva helps break food down while eating, and afterwards it washes away some of the bits of food that get stuck on teeth. Saliva also can neutralize acids which lowers the amount present in the mouth. Interestingly, it can even help protect us against certain viruses and bacteria. Pellicle If you have ever noticed a slippery feeling on your teeth right after you brush, that's the result of the proteins in saliva called pellicle. Pellicle coat teeth after brushing by absorbing themselves into the surface of the teeth. The pellicle gives teeth an extra layer of protection against decay-causing acids. Unfortunately, bacteria and microorganisms can easily attach to the pellicle and this is actually the stage during which plaque begins to develop. Plaque If you were to look at the white sticky substance on your teeth through a microscope, you'd realize that plaque consists of yeast, microorganisms, bacteria, protozoa, mycoplasmas, white blood cells, food particles, body tissues and viruses. Calculus Dental calculus, commonly referred to as tartar, is the calcified deposits which develop on the teeth in the absence of proper dental hygiene. Calculus is formed by the presence of saliva, debris, minerals and dental plaque. The rough surface of this material provides an ideal medium for further plaque formation. This not only increases the opportunity for dental cavaties to form and threatens the health of the gums, but it also absorbs unaesthetic stains far more easily than the natural surface of the teeth. If people realized all of this, surely they'd do a much better job brushing and flossing their teeth daily! Several hours after brushing is when plaque starts to develop and in just one hour, a good amount will accumulate. If the plaque is left untouched other microorganisms join the mix, thickening the plaque and turning on its destructive powers. Bacteria are in the mouth too and they're always present in both good and bad forms. The good bacteria help us fight colds and other illnesses. The bad intensify the tooth decaying process. Streptococcus mutans is the worst, producing acid while attaching to teeth. Lactobacillus only can attach to plaque so it doesn't do quite as much damage. Several other bacteria located inside the mouth as well contribute to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Tooth decay begins when bacteria start attaching themselves to the pellicle. Six or so hours later, plaque begins to form. The bacteria present in your mouth produce acids, and these acids, by throwing the pH balance of your mouth out of balance, cause tooth decay. In the case of tooth decay, a process called demineralization begins when the pH level inside the mouth drops below 5.5.
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| © cavities part i 2003-2008. Index |
