After being involved in a webinar about minimally invasive dentistry, I wanted to write a blog that explains in simple terms, what tooth decay actually is (a disease!)...and how to prevent it - as dentists we are very good at treating the symptoms of the disease by filling cavities but it is only now that we know what causes the disease that we are able to tackle the root cause ..please read on...

 

1)    Is tooth decay a disease?                 

 

Yes, it is a complicated disease caused by bacteria living in the mouth and is called caries. Caries damages your teeth and is not painful in the early stages. Eventually caries destroys teeth and can be very painful.

 

2)    Can caries be treated?                          

 

Yes. Traditionally dentists have identified the damage caused by caries which is manifested by white or grey patches on teeth or actual cavities in the teeth. X-rays are also used. These cavities are then drilled clean and a filling placed in the resulting hole or cavity. This treatment is costly and can be unpleasant. Here at Haynesdental we can now treat the disease and not just treat the damage caused by the disease.

 

3)    What can be done about the bacteria living in my mouth?

 

Nothing. Everyone has between 500 to 1900 different kinds of bacteria living in their mouths, not to mention other parts of the gut and body. These are ‘good’ bacteria and do no harm to us. Indeed some of these billions of bacteria may have a positive effect on us, so we would not want to get rid of them. However, in many people, harmful bacteria live in a thin biofilm that covers our teeth, as well as the other bacteria of course. They are called our bacterial flora and each person has a different floral makeup.

 

4)    So what can be done about harmful bacteria in my biofilm?

 

There can be up to 23 different kinds of harmful bacteria living in your biofilm and they create acid. In fact these bacteria love acid. They make acid by fermenting the carbohydrates we eat in our diet and then live in an acid biofilm they have created. This acid damages our teeth and starts caries. So if you have an acid biofilm we need to change it to a non-acid biofilm or even an alkaline one. Once this is done you need to maintain your biofilm by stopping it ever becoming acid again.

 

5)    My dentist says that eating sugar causes caries. Is this true?        

 

Yes. Acid loving bacteria ferment carbohydrates into acid. Refined sugar is the easiest carbohydrate for them to feed on, so, a simply way to reduce caries is to have a sugar free diet. However, dentists have noticed that some people who eat no sugar still get caries. Why? We now understand that some people have bacteria and yeasts living in a permanently acid biofilm regardless of diet.

 

6)    How can I know if I have an acidic biofilm? Do I just have to wait until I get cavities?

 

No. At Haynesdental we practice CAMBRA (caries management by risk assessment). Using a simple chairside test, which involves taking a swab from your teeth, we can electronically measure the acidity of your biofilm. This becomes part of a risk assessment which includes the more traditional dental examination and a questionnaire on diet etc. Using this information we can make a risk assessment and prescribe appropriate treatment which hopefully will not include drilling and filling. Of course if caries has already taken a hold in your mouth then some traditional treatment may also be necessary.

 

7)    How can you change the acidity of a dental biofilm?

 

We use the ‘Carifree’ system which a selection of mouthwashes, oral sprays, toothpastes, and chewing gum. First your biofilm is ‘sterilised’ of most bacteria and chemically changed from acid to alkali with a special mouth wash. The acid loving bacteria cannot thrive in a non-acid biofilm and so they are replaced by other harmless bacteria. Next your biofilm is maintained with mouthwashes containing fluoride and the pleasant tasting xylitol for two months when another risk assessment is made.

8)    Do you recommend that I come for a caries risk assessment?        

 

Yes. Please call 0208 674 1838 and make an appointment.

 

Please Google:-   Carifree    CAMBRA    Xylitol     Flouride