Posts for: November, 2011 A number of factors can lead to dental
caries (tooth decay). To find out if you are at high risk, ask
yourself these questions. Is plaque visible in my mouth? Dental
plaque is a whitish film of bacteria that collects on your
teeth. If it is clearly visible, it means that there is a lot of
it. Among the bacteria in the plaque are those that produce
tooth decay, particularly in an acidic environment. (A normal
mouth is neutral, measured on the pH scale, midway between the
extreme acidic and basic ends of the scale.) Do I have a dry
mouth? Saliva protects your teeth against decay by neutralizing
an acidic environment and adding minerals back to the outer
surface of enamel of your teeth, so reduced saliva is a high
risk for caries. Many medications can cause dry mouth as a side
effect. Do I eat a lot of snacks, particularly unhealthy ones?
Frequently eating sugars, refined carbohydrates, and acidic
foods promotes the growth of decay-producing bacteria. The more
frequently you eat, the lo