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Tooth enamel
is hard. It consists of many
closely-packed rods made of minerals. When you eat, acid forms
on the outside of the tooth and seeps into the enamel's rods.
This demineralization process can produce a
weak spot in the tooth's surface. If unchecked, the enamel
can decay and create a cavity.
Fluoride
helps prevent tooth decay by slowing
the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the natural
remineralization process. These microscopic views of the
tooth's chewing surface show how fluoride works:
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Healthy tooth enamel rods
before acid's onslaught. |
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Enamel rods demineralized,
or broken down, by acid |
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Enamel rods remineralized
or rebuilt, by fluoride and
the minerals in saliva. |
Common sources of fluoride are
fluoridated drinking water, toothpaste and mouth rinse. Inform
your dentist if your drinking water is not fluoridated. High
concentration fluoride gels, mouth rinses, drops and tablets may
be recommended by your dentist. |
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Your dentist may recommend at home
fluoride treatments to reverse the decay process.
If the weak spot is left unchecked, a cavity may form,
necessitating a filling. If decay is allowed to spread, it may
penetrate the root and enter the pulp (nerve) chamber, causing
an abscess and requiring root canal treatment.
PROGRESSION OF TOOTH DECAY
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Tooth decay often begins
on biting surfaces, between
the teeth, and on exposed roots. |
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Untreated,
the cavity becomes larger. |
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Decay spreads
beneath the enamel and can
destroy the tooth structure |
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Decay enters
and infects the pulp and an abscess may occur. |
Use of fluoridated toothpaste can
help prevent tooth decay at its early stage. |
