Answers to presentation questions

Thank you all for your nice comments regarding my oral presentation. I am going to try to answer the questions that you asked.

1. Do acids play a role in the predisposition of getting cavities? Will all that consume acids get cavities or is this related to genes or a combination of both?
The process of getting decay is also related to the amount of time that the tooth is exposed to the acids. If someone consumes one soda a day with there lunch (over a 15-20 minute period) compared to someone else that consumes the same one soda a day but, leaves it at their desk and sips it every 20 minutes or so. The person sipping the soda will have far more decay than the person that drinks it down in 15 minutes. This is because the sipper is constantly bathing the teeth in acids throughout the day.
As far as being predisposed to decay, it is true that some individuals or cultures have lower decay rates. This is due to the hardness of the enamel as well as diet. As I mentioned in my presentation, communities with higher levels of fluoride have harder enamel and are then less likely to develop decay.

2. Should people without city water supplement their fluoride?
As a child with un-erupted teeth, fluoride supplement is recommended to help harden the now forming permanent teeth. Once the tooth is erupted into the mouth the only way that fluoride is beneficial is through topical use, such as: fluoride treatments at the dentist or through use of fluoride toothpaste or mouth rinses. If you are not on city water it is very important to have your water tested for natural fluoride before any supplement is given to a child. Too much fluoride can result in discoloring of the teeth ranging from white spots to brown spots depending on how much fluoride is given.

3. How long does it take for tooth to decay?
It will vary for all individuals. It depends on hardness of enamel, level of pH and the amount of time the tooth is exposed.

4. Where can I get xylitol?
My best suggestion is to ask your dentist for a toothpaste that contains xylitol. Keep reading the ingredients, in time you will find over the counter toothpastes containing xylitol.

5. What type of bacteria occurs in cases that require root canals?
When a tooth is in need of a root canal it is because the center of the tooth, where the nerve and blood supply of the tooth are, have been infected with bacteria. This is often due to a large amount of decay. Since this is inside the tooth, there is not very much oxygen available and the bacteria involved are likely anaerobic.

I hope that I have answered everyone’s questions.