Causes of Tooth Decay

In early childhood you were probably told to stay away from sugar bacause, it 'causes tooth decay." This is true - the less processed sugar in your diet, the better.

The sugar found in most prepared foods - not just sweets - helps bacteria ferment. fermenting bacteria generates byproducts called enzymes that cause the breakdown of soft tissue, the connective tissue beneath the surface, and hard tissue. When this happens, it initiates a process referred to generally as "periodontal disease."
Sugar combines with acids present in your mouth and helps bacteria form colonies that corrode tooth enamel. The main damage is done by a bacterium known as S.mutans, which converts sugar into sticky strands that cling to tooth surfaces and support colonies of bacteria. Like all living things, bacteria produce waste products. If these waste products are allowed to remain in place, they bulk up and produce an acidic mass that's called plaque. The resulting acid build-up corrodes the surface of your teeth. This corrosion is what dentists call caries, and almost everyone else calls, simply, cavities.