By Dr. John Berchelmann Jr
We have all heard that if we eat sweets, that we will get cavities or holes in our teeth. This is not exactly true, because cavities are a disease process and not directly caused by the sugar we eat.
What is the cause of a cavity? A cavity is a bacterial infection. It’s a contagious disease which can spread from person to person through their saliva. It can be spread by sharing foods, drinks or kissing.
The way this happens is that there are several specific species of bacteria that get on the surface of your teeth and start to multiply.
In a very short time a plaque forms that is a sticky substance. It adheres to your teeth which is teaming with bacteria.
These bacteria can only survive on sugar or foods that turn into sugar, like carbohydrates.
While these bacteria use carbohydrates to live on, they secrete an acid as a by product of their metabolism. It dissolves the enamel or the outer covering of the tooth.
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