UNDERMINING FACTORS : Demineralization, Damage and Decay
Many factors undermine tooth health and beauty. But the most common ones are surface damage and staining, and mineral loss, given the constant snacking and dietary content of our current lifestyle. These lead to dull and discolored tooth surfaces, reduced mineral density, loss of translucency and whiteness, and eventually tooth decay.
Among the major threatening factors are:
① Decay-causing plaque: bacterial colonization of the tooth surface, producing acids that dissolve tooth mineral
② Surface roughness: scratches resulting from wear, or excessive pressure, and which attract plaque and stains
③ Subsurface demineralization (incipient caries): mineral dissolution below the tooth surface, the first step toward tooth decay
④ Surface erosion and exposure near the base of the tooth: leading to hypersensitivity and potential root caries
