Dental Decay It is very important that decay is detected at an early stage. Most decay is now preventable by using dental products such as tooth mousse and daily flossing and brushing and regular 6-9 month check ups for your dentist. Who is at risk of decay? Decay used to be worst in the 5-15 year olds. These days, very few children in this age group have a problem with decay, thanks to the use of fluoride in drinking water and in toothpaste. The age groups with the highest decay rate are now 15 - 30 years olds, and the over 60's.

Factors contributing to dental decay: Diet containing lots of sugar, acidic foods or drinks eg, soft ddrinks or sports drinks and frequent sugary snacks. Inadequate oral hygiene eg, infrequent brushing, uning not-fluoridate toothpaste. More decay is found in patients with general health problems, those who are taking medication which either contains excessive sugar or which causes dry mouth through reduced production of saliva. How the decay process Happens Bacteria in the mouth can use the carbohydrate found in food to produce acid, which is harmful to teeth. Frequent snacks or acidic drinks promote the production of plaque acid, which may lead to tooth decay. We now have to think differently about decay and realise that we can control it more readily ourselves. Even if we develop the early stages of decay, improved home care and regular dental 'check ups' will enable these early 'whitespots' to be detected and prevented from progressing.

'White Spots' indicate that acid attack has dissolved some of the tooth enamel; however the process can be reversed. We call this remineralising decay. Remineralising the decay will usually replace much of the tooth mineral lost below the tooth surface, and increase the tooth's resistance to further decay in the years ahead.  There are products used to remineralise teeth such as Tooth Mousse (no Fluoride) and Tooth Mousse Plus (has Fluoride) A Management Plan May Include The Following Activities: HOME CARE Dietary advice, such as reducing the frequency of sugary or acidic foods and drinks consumed. Drinking more water instead of soft drinks and sports drinks. Personal Oral Hygiene - brushing with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day as will as flossing. Recommendation of addiction fluoride products such as mouth rinses, gels and Tooth Mousse. Chewing sugar-gum to produce saliva. PROFESSIONAL CARE Frequent brief dental visits to monitor progress. Professional application of fluoride. It may be suggested that you have special resin sealants placed on undecayed tooth surfaces especially with deep grooves, too protect them from future decay. Routine check ups every 6-9 months.

Acid Attack vs Natural Recovery Every time we eat or drinks, out teeth are under attack from food acids and plaque acid produced from carbohydrates and sugars by bacteria present in out mouths. The acid attack lasts for approximately 20 minutes, until food particles are diluted and washed away by saliva. The mouth now enters recovery mode - miniscule quantities of tooth minerals dissolved during the acid attack phase are replaced and rebuild- but that happens only if there is enough time before the next acid challenge. There is constant balancing between demineralisation and remineralisation in a healthy mouth. Continual acid attack destroys the balancing act, and below the surface, a honeycomb effect of tiny holes develops. The tooth becomes fragile, and over time the weakened structure caves in. Once a hold has penetrated the tough enamel of the tooth surface, the way is open for bacteria to enter and the decay process to speed up dramatically.

Regurgitation Problems Regurgitation problems may be associated with Early Pregnancy Tummy / Gastric Bug Big Night Out Eating Disorder Regurgitation of stomach contents or gastric juices cause severe erosion and existing decay problems to accelerate. Gastric juices contain strong acids that cause damage to tooth enamel and exposed root surfaces. After vomiting, the sour, unpleasant taste means that acid is present in the mouth and the surface of the teeth becomes softened. When this happens: Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water, and rub toothpaste over your teeth with your finger or toothbrush - this will help to freshen your mouth, and toughen your teeth. Avoid brushing your teeth until the enamel has had a chance to recover and harden (about 30 minutes after applying toothpaste). Always use a soft-bristled toothbrush to reduce the wear on teeth that are exposed to acid attack. Don't delay if you think you have rapidly progressing decay. This type of decay quickly damages the nerve and blood supply to the tooth, and can become very painful. The damage inside the tooth is usually much more severe than you can see from looking in the mirror.