Dental caries (tooth decay) are affected by three major factors:
- Food or beverages consumed
- Bacterial plaque
- The oral health of your teeth and mouth
When these factors are out of balance in favour of the bacteria, there are negative effects. Bacterial waste products become acidic. This results in a breakdown or demineralisation of areas beneath the tooth surface.
Each time you eat, your teeth are under an acid attack. Your body counter measures by rinsing the food and acid away with saliva. Your saliva neutralises the acid, but more importantly it replenishes minerals (calcium and phosphate) to rebuild the areas of your tooth that were demineralised by the acid attack. This rebuilding process is called re-mineralisation.
