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Cavities
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It starts with bacteria...
Thousands of bacteria live in your mouth, and most of them are
beneficial. But a few are harmful, including the streptococcus
mutans bacterium, the one responsible for tooth decay. These
bacteria thrive in plaque, a sticky film that's constantly forming
on your teeth.
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Add starches, and the process begins
The S. mutans bacteria feast on starches in your mouth, then
produce an acid that dissolves your tooth enamel, until eventually
you have a hole on the surface of your tooth (a cavity). The
only way to stop the decay process is for us to remove the decay
and put in a filling material.
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The good news...
When you brush and floss properly, you're removing the plaque
from your teeth, leaving little for bacteria to eat. As a result,
their growth is slowed, and they don't produce the acids that
lead to tooth decay. This is why it's important to remove plaque
from your teeth each day.
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