Mouth is a vulnerable environment. Consequently, it has a unique bacterial flora. Residues of food with sugar and flour on the teeth and tongue are decomposed by bacteria, resulting in acid, which decays teeth. Decay is not dependent on a single factor. There a many factors cause decaying of teeth, such as thinness of enamel pattern or unevenness of enamel, deficiencies in teeth array causing difficulty in removing dental plaque, insufficient secretion of saliva, bad nutrition, and lack of proper mouth care, overconsumption of acidic and sugary food. In addition to all these, some systemic diseases or administration of some medications may also cause teeth decays. Tetracycline, an antibiotic, causes dark colors on teeth and impairs tooth color.
Some people ask why their teeth decays although they brush their teeth very well. You brush your teeth, okay, but it may not necessarily be adequate or effective. Back teeth may not be brushed as required, as some people with vomiting reflex. Tooth - gum conjunctions, where dental plaque accumulates more, are not brushed well. Interfaces of teeth decay upon lack of usage of dental floss. Dental floss is an absolute must for a complete mouth care. Acidic beverages and sugary food are consumed too much. Some of my patients say that they brush their teeth right after waking up, but not after breakfast. Teeth must be brushed after all meals, particularly after eating acidic and sugary food as refreshments. Some people say they continuously use mouthwash for their mouth care. Continuous use of mouthwash is not recommended as it causes bacteria to sink on the teeth, increasing tartar formation. Mouthwash must be used only according to recommendations of your dentist.
Enamel, the outmost layer of teeth, is harder than diamond. Any food that is squeezed between teeth and not cleaned would be decomposed by bacteria, creating acid. Such acid first creates micro cavities on the surface of enamel. Bacteria accumulate on such cavities. When mouth care is inadequate, bacteria decompose such hard layer of enamel and impair the enamel pattern, and penetrate to the dentin layer. If you feel sensitive while drinking cold water or a hot drink, this means that decay penetrated the dentin. We can remove decay removed through a simple filling process. If the decay is not treated at this stage, it will arrive at the root of teeth. In decays at this stage, toothache becomes severe, causing pain on colder stimuli, and pain may start on the teeth without any factor, and may not be relieved. There would be continuous ache, up to throbbing, which cannot be relieved by painkiller in general. In such cases, tooth is treated through root canal therapy. Otherwise bacteria would proceed through the root canals, creating tooth apse on the root apex within the bone, which may necessitate extraction of tooth.
In protection of teeth against decay, it is very important to consume milk, yogurt, white cheese, starting from the initial appearance of baby teeth. If you don’t brush your teeth, you should at least wash your mouth. If you don’t brush white cheese, and if it remains on your teeth, it protects your teeth against decay. You may prefer to chew xylitol gums, as it provides mechanical cleaning, and xylitol prevents decays. If you don’t brush your teeth, eating apple as the last food would help mechanical cleaning and protects teeth against decay. Even if you don’t feel any pain, it is a very important measure against decays to visit your dentist and have your teeth examined in every 6 months.
