What you eat is a big contributor to tooth decay. Foods that are rich in sugar or starch are eaten by bacteria found in plaque, which will produce acids that eat through teeth.  This acid is particularly harmful to teeth, as it can eat through the dentin and enamel quite quickly.

Collapse of the Tooth Enamel

The tooth enamel may begin to break down beneath the surface of your tooth, even though the surface will appear to be fine.  Once the acid has managed to eat away enough of the enamel below the surface, the surface will collapse, which results in a cavity.

Exposure of the Root

At this point if you don’t get the tooth decay treated, the tooth will continue to be eaten away and the cavity will continue to spread until more of the tooth has been damaged, risking exposure of the root – which can be very painful. If you or members of your family eat a lot of sweets or drink a lot of fizzy drinks, you are increasing your risk of tooth decay and maybe more serious tooth disorders. While we are the first to recommend regular appointments with your family dentist, an increased number of visits due to tooth problems that are easily avoided can become an unwelcome expense!