Teeth and tooth decay

• While people enjoy food of all varieties
• Some types of food
• For example sweets, chocolates, carbonated drinks, cakes and biscuits are not good for our teeth
• These are foods that are high in sugar content
• Foods that are better for dental health are those that have more fibre
• This is because ending a meal with such foods helps to clean the tooth surfaces

Tooth decay

Structure of a tooth. Image credit solankidental.com

• After eating a meal some food is always left on the teeth
• If it is not removed by brushing/cleaning it builds up a layer
• This layer is known as plaque
• Plaque –is a thin layer of food that remains on the tooth surface and contains bacteria
• The bacteria breaks down food that remains on tooth surfaces producing acids
• The acids destroys the hard enamel layer that protects the tooth surface
• This allows holes to form leading to the eventual decay of the tooth

Stages of tooth decay

Stages in tooth decay. Image credit eschooltoday.com

• The first stage is when the hard enamel layer is destroyed
• No pain is felt at this stage
• A cavity(hole) forms on the surface of the tooth
• When this hole reaches the dentine layer tooth sensitivity increases
• Pain is felt when the tooth is exposed to extreme temperatures for example a cold or hot substance results in sharp pain
• The tooth can be filled by a dentist using a cavity filler at this stage
• When the cavity opening reaches the pulp cavity a severe toothache (pain) results
• This is because blood capillaries and nerve endings become exposed
• The tooth will have to be removed at this stage

Dental care

• When it comes to dental hygiene prevention is better than cure
• Teeth should be brushed regularly and after every meal
• Eating between meals should be avoided as it leaves food particles in the mouth
• Proper toothpaste must be used as they:
• Contain granules that can help rub plaque from off tooth surfaces
• Have an alkali that neutralizes the acid left by bacteria
• Brushing should consists of between one to three minutes of gentle brushing
• A  balanced diet ensures healthy teeth developement

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page