Causes of tooth decay
The cause of tooth decay is "dental cavity bacteria".They create plaque on the surfaces of the teeth, where they settle and use sugar as nutrition to produce acid.This cavity-causing bacteria combines with other factors such as the original strength of the teeth and sugar to cause cavities.
In addition, humans do not naturally carry the bacteria that cause tooth decay, but the bacteria are transmitted through saliva. It is said that babies can become infected from people who have the bacteria, such as when they eat food from their mother's mouth or use chopsticks or spoons used by their mother.
There are four factors that cause tooth decay.
Cause of tooth decay 1Individual differences in tooth quality
This refers to the inherent resistance to cavities that teeth have. The quality of teeth varies greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as the strength of the teeth from birth, medication, lifestyle including diet, and tooth brushing habits.
Cause of tooth decay 2Tooth decay bacteria is abundant
There are many bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and periodontal disease. The number and types of bacteria vary from person to person, and some people have a lot of cavity-causing bacteria and are prone to cavities, while others have a lot of periodontal disease bacteria and are prone to periodontal disease. For people with a lot of cavity-causing bacteria, it is important to create an environment that is difficult for cavity-causing bacteria to live in in order to reduce the risk of developing cavities.The key is brushing your teeth at home and professional plaque control at the dentist will be important.
Cause of tooth decay 3Sugar (sugar)
Cariogenic bacteria feed on sugar (especially sugar) in food and drinks to produce acid. Most modern foods contain sugar, so it is impossible to eliminate it altogether. However, you can change your risk of caries by being creative with the type and frequency of your meals and snacks you eat.
Cause of Tooth Decay #4Long demineralization time
When you eat, your mouth becomes acidic within about 3 minutes, creating an environment that makes it easier for your teeth to dissolve (demineralize). The longer this demineralization continues, the more your teeth will dissolve, and the higher your risk of cavities will be. When you brush your teeth, the pH level in your mouth returns to neutral, and the demineralized areas will remineralize.To shorten the time for demineralization, it is important to brush your teeth after meals..
Check your caries risk with a saliva test!
A saliva test can help you check your risk of tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by bacterial infection. Bacterial infection occurs when certain conditions in the oral cavity are met.The causes vary from person to person, with some people having a higher number of bacteria and others having less saliva, which reduces the bactericidal effect.At our clinic, we create a chart to evaluate the risk of tooth decay and recommend preventive measures that are appropriate for each patient.