Enamel. Tooth enamel is a highly mineralized acellular tissue, and caries act upon it through a chemical process brought on by the acidic environment produced by bacteria.
Why is tooth decay a chemical reaction?
The products of the reaction are calcium ions, phosphoric acid and water. All of these exist in chemical equilibrium with the crystalline calcium phosphate. When acid levels in the mouth are high, the chemical reaction is forced to the right (forward reaction) which means that more calcium is dissolved.
What is tooth decay in chemistry?
The Chemistry. Tooth decay is Acid/Base chemistry. Acids dissolve the enamel surface of the tooth and create holes in the tooth (cavities)
What is tooth decay short answer?
Tooth decay (dental caries) is damage to a tooth that can happen when decay-causing bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the tooth’s surface, or enamel. This can lead to a small hole in a tooth, called a cavity. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
Can a decayed tooth be saved?
The first line of defense is a filling, but if the tooth decay is serious you may need a root canal. But you can only do this if the root is still healthy. If not, there is no choice but to extract the rotten tooth. With a root canal, the dentist will drill down the tooth to clean out the decay.
What color is tooth decay?
Generally speaking, a dental cavity (also called tooth decay) can range in color from white to brown and eventually black as the cavity continues to grow.
Does black on tooth mean cavity?
At first, these stains may seem like cavities, but they’re not. They’re also not normal tooth discoloration related to foods and beverages. These black lines on teeth are actually just a form of tartar, also called dental calculus.
Can you reverse tooth decay naturally?
Tooth decay can be stopped or reversed at this point. Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva, and fluoride from toothpaste or other sources. But if the tooth decay process continues, more minerals are lost. Over time, the enamel is weakened and destroyed, forming a cavity.
What is the best medicine for tooth decay?
Treatment options include: Fluoride treatments. If your cavity just started, a fluoride treatment may help restore your tooth’s enamel and can sometimes reverse a cavity in the very early stages. Professional fluoride treatments contain more fluoride than the amount found in tap water, toothpaste and mouth rinses.
How do they fix tooth decay at gum line?
Treatment for a gumline cavity depends on the location of the cavity. If it’s above the gumline, and it’s not too extensive, your dentist can probably treat it like any other surface category: with a filling. Typically, this means drilling through the enamel on the tooth and then removing the decay.
How do you stop tooth decay from spreading at home?
The following home remedies might help prevent cavities or treat “pre-cavities” by remineralizing weakened areas of your enamel before a cavity develops:
Can I replace all of my teeth?
If you’re missing all your teeth, dental implants are the optimal choice for restoring your mouth to full functionality. Dental implants are the modern standard of care for tooth replacement—no matter if it’s one tooth or all your teeth. Without teeth, there are no tooth roots in the jawbone to stimulate bone growth.
