![]() If more minerals are lost than can be restored, the enamel weakens and eventually breaks down, forming a cavity. Enamel can repair itself by using minerals from saliva and fluoride from toothpaste or through the application of fluoride by a dentist or dental hygienist. ![]() Tooth decay can be stopped or reversed at this point. A white spot may appear where minerals have been lost. When a tooth is repeatedly exposed to acid, such as when you frequently consume food or drink high in sugar and starches, the enamel continues to lose minerals. This acid can attack the tooth’s enamel, causing it to lose minerals. When decay-causing bacteria come into contact with sugars and starches from foods and drinks, they form an acid. This severe tooth decay starts in the baby’s front teeth and extends to the back teeth.īecause many older adults experience receding gums, which allows decay-causing bacteria in the mouth to come into contact with the tooth’s root, they can get decay on the exposed root surfaces of their teeth. Young children are at risk for “early childhood caries,” sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay. People of all ages can get tooth decay once they have teeth-from childhood through the senior years. If tooth decay is not treated, it can cause pain, infection, and even tooth loss. ![]() This can lead to a small hole in a tooth, called a cavity. ![]() Tooth decay begins when bacteria in your mouth make acids that attack the tooth’s surface (enamel). ![]()
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