Tag: Enamel Decay

How does enamel decay start, and how to it stop?

Enamel decay takes place in several stages and begins with the creation of a cavity so that its progress can be prevented with early action. It is a complex mineral coating to protect the tooth pulp and dentin, to protect the soft inner layers of the tooth. And when the acids attack the tooth enamel, it changes its colour. This is the first sign of enamel decay.

Enamel

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body. These crystal-like materials contain more of a mineral called hydroxyapatite, which also contains smaller amounts of similar minerals. The natural colour of tooth enamel ranges from light yellow-gray to white; Because it is translucent, the colour of the inner surface of the tooth contributes to its overall appearance.

Tooth enamel does not contain living cells, so you will not feel the first signs of decay. Tooth enamel is slowly eroded under acidic conditions, and it will not grow back once wholly weakened.
Oral bacteria

“Streptococcus mutans” is the bacteria responsible for tooth enamel decay, and it lives in the mouth and has been present in the teeth since childhood. According to Carrington College, S. mutans combine with sugars and starches in food, and plaque adheres to it. Once the plaque adheres to the enamel rods, the bacteria remain in the mouth. Streptococcus mutans, this bacterium, converts the sugar in food into lactic acid, which causes demineralization of tooth enamel.

Stages of tooth enamel decay

In its early stages, tooth enamel decay is reversible. Cavities develop very early, however, and only a dentist can treat the damage. When lactic acid breaks down the minerals in your tooth enamel, the surface turns white, but unfortunately, not the white you want. The first sign of decay is a white patch on the tooth, and at this stage, it is vital to improving your oral hygiene habits and treatment to prevent the progression of decay.

The University of Rochester Medical Center explains that the affected area changes colour from light brown to dark in the second and third stages of tooth enamel decay. Then the tooth enamel retreats and allows the acids to enter the tooth’s soft interior through the cavity. Without treatment, this cavity becomes more extensive, and the tooth becomes painful.