Plaque, Tooth Decay and Big Teeth

Our mouths are warm, wet and receive a steady supply of food - no wonder bacteria love living there. While some of these bacteria are good and actually fight off bad bacteria, some aren't so good. These are the bacteria that form a thin sticky film called plaque.

Although our tooth enamel is pretty tough, the acid produced by these bacteria can eat away at the enamel below the surface - where you can't see it. If this is left unchecked, a hole forms below the surface and eventually the surface will collapse and a cavity is formed. In the early stages, this won't cause your child any pain, and the dentist should be able to see it and stop it from developing into a bigger hole. This is another reason why regular dentist visits are so important.

If the cavity isn't stopped, it can spread into the softer dentin layer that lies underneath the enamel, causing toothache. In the worst case scenario, the cavity will continue to spread through the soft center of the tooth, which can be very painful and may mean the whole tooth has to be removed.

Remineralization

Fluoride toothpastes are also important because they can help the tooth remineralize - that is, help prevent the hole from forming by replacing lost minerals in the enamel. However, if remineralization doesn't take place early on, the decay can continue to spread. At this point, your child could start getting a toothache. Once the surface of the tooth collapses, the cavity will need to be filled.