Tooth Decay

Tooth Decay Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, Prevention

Re-mineralization – a Tool to help Reversing Tooth Decay

A person will not get hollows over the night. It normally takes several months or in fact years for a hollow to erupt. This is due to situations not conducive enough for the dental demineralization process to occur.

As everyone knows, both dental plaque and dietary carbohydrates should be present for tooth decay to occur. These situations do not exist every time but many times there occurs certain dental demineralization. In course of time, there can be an incident whereby the collective consequence of each episode of demineralization has led to the eruption of hollow space.

Re-mineralize: A Pinch of Impediment

There exists one more vital dynamic action-taking place related to tooth decay eruption apart from just dental demineralization. If situations are ripe enough, an incisor can endure a re-mineralization operation. Re-mineralization aids to thwart the harm made through demineralization. Re-mineralization is an effective reversal of tooth cavities.

Were you aware of a small region of tooth decay or a small hollow can usually be cured devoid of a filling? With the disease’s better understanding causing hollow spaces, dental practitioners better realize to prevent or reverse primitive tooth decay.

If your dental practitioner has detected a small region of tooth decay, filling can be avoided. Your dental practitioner may advise re-mineralization as a medication option. Normally, the approach employed in this medication is to:

• Locate the culprits causing the decay
• Stipulate besieged measures or interferences against such factors
• Estimate your improvement at a "caries administration assessment" meeting or your subsequent cleanliness visit

It is hoped that this handout answers the questions anyone may have about this medication choice.

What does Re-mineralization Really Mean?

Re-mineralization is an successful cure that that frequently averts or reverses primitive tooth decay. If the hollow is re-mineralized, the filling can be avoided.

The teeth comprises minerals like calcium and phosphate which crystallize hard and is called enamel, a top layer of the incisor. Certain microbes in plaque yield acids on being exposed to simple carbohydrates besides ripened starches. Each acid fights to remove minerals off the incisor. This operation is termed as demineralization. If manifold processes of demineralization take place, the ultimate outcome is a hollow or a gap in the teeth.

In case of early detection of decay before the formation of a hole or cavity, placing calcium as well as fluoride back into the tooth can remineralize it.

How does the Demineralization and Re-mineralization Work?

Dental enamel is invariably enclosed with plaque which mainly consists of microbes. The plaque is mostly found adjacent to the gum, amidst teeth, in furrows of the gnawing teeth’s surfaces besides other concealed regions.


Demineralization takes place when carbohydrates and amylum combine with microbes to produce acids to dissolve the dental enamel. Tooth decay erupts when the enamel’s calcium and phosphates are damaged.

Remineralization takes place when the calcium and phosphates in the saliva go into the demineralized regions of the tooth. Use of fluoride helps this operation and attack tooth cavities. Saliva also aids by cleansing away the surface carbohydrates and cushioning the acids.