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How to Fight Dental Cavities and Bacteria

Updated on December 10, 2009

It's All About Bacteria

Guilty as charged are: Streptococcus Gordonil, S. oralis, S. mutans, Lacobacillus casel.

These are the tiny armies that exist in your mouth and others, each playing a role in tooth decay. Bacteria causes tooth decay which attach themselves to tooth surfaces. The first evidence of these tiny armies is plaque, which produces acid that erodes your tooth minerals. Streptococcus has been consisently implicated in making cavities. It usually arrives on the scene some 3-4 hours after food has been eaten. Within another 24hrs, more serious forces arrive like S. mutans that bind together with the plague. The S. mutan produces serious acid and this begins to eat or dissolve your tooth's defense, the enamel. Once it has been present for several days, additional bacteria arrives like Lactobacillus casei, this accelerates the process and begins to damage the tooth. Brushing and mouthwash do not stop the process. The S. mutan bacteria converts surgars into lactic acid creating a glue like substance that holds the plaque together. This bacteria is resilent to levels of acidity when compared to others.

Killing the bacteria is difficult since the die off after brushing lasts only 3-4 hrs. Periodontal disease is a result of bacteria attacking the gums that hold the teeth. This takes considerably longer,several months.

Your weapons are the usual: brushing and floss. Use flouride paste, brush all tooth surfaces daily after meals or after snacking. The key is to remove the food that bacteria feeds on in your mouth. Floss daily to destroy the plaque clinging to the teeth. If your brush is older than three months, replace it. Swish mouthwash and toothpaste around inside your mouth to kill the bacteria. Drink water with flouride in it. 


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