Frequently Asked Questions

Dental Caries

Date Posted: 1/1/2002

Question What happens when my saliva is not adequate?

Answer In the mouth, there is a constant demineralisation (tooth being dissolved by acids) and remineralisation (tooth being re-deposited on the teeth from saliva). If your demineralisation is happening at a greater rate than remineralisation, you get loss of tooth substance. If your mouth is acidic a good deal of the day from, say, excessive and constant intake of acidic soft drinks or constant sugar intake, then the demineralisation wins and you have problems. If you are careful with the diet, then your saliva is more neutral and you will get good remineralisation to constantly repair the teeth.

More questions in this category:

What is dental caries?
What causes dental caries?
How can you prevent dental caries?
Why is saliva important?
What happens when my saliva is not adequate?
How do dentists treat dental caries?
How important is my diet in preventing and treating dental caries?