Dental Caries
Dental caries refers to a condition where the structure of a tooth is damaged. The
damage starts from the enamel at the surface and gradually spreads into the inner
structures of the tooth.
Why does a tooth become decayed?
The tooth surfaces are normally covered with dental plaque.
Every time food or drinks are consumed, the bacteria in the dental plaque will metabolise
the sugars in your food to produce acids, which will cause the loss of minerals
from tooth surfaces.
Although saliva can neutralize the acids and slow down the standardize process,
it takes a long period of time to do so.
If we eat and drink frequently, the acid cannot be adequately neutralise by the
saliva, and the continuous demineralization will eventually result in formation
of Dental Caries.