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Types of Teeth and Tooth Decay

What actually causes tooth decay and how that process can be prevented?

In this article we will be talking about:

The different types of Teeth

People have two sets of teeth in their lives, the primary teeth (also called the baby, milk or deciduous teeth) and the permanent teeth (also called the adult or secondary teeth).There are thirty two teeth in the adult; sixteen in the upper jaw and sixteen in the lower jaw. Humans have four types of teeth each with a specific size, shape and function. Adult humans have eight incisors, located in the front of mouth, four in the upper jaw and four in the lower jaw. There are twelve molars. Three sets in each jaw refer to as the first, second and third molars. The third molars are also known as wisdom teeth.

Tooth Functions

Incisors have a sharp edge that is used to cut food. There are two canine teeth in each jaw and their function is to tear food. Behind the canines are the bicuspids otherwise known as the premolars. There are two sets or four bicuspids in each jaw. There are flat teeth pronounced cusps that grind and mash food. Behind the bicuspids are the molars. This is where the most vigorous chewing occurs.

Structure of the Tooth

Each tooth has three regions: the crown, the neck and the root. Each tooth is encored into the bone and the bone is covered by gum.

The enamel, this is the hard covering of the tooth. It is made up almost entirely of minerals mostly calcium and phosphors and protects the interior of the tooth. It is the hardest tissue in the human body and may incur crushing pressure of approximately 100,000 pounds per square inch. Dentin, this is living tissue and is perforated by tubules. These are like tiny straws that run throughout this layer. The cementer; is a thin layer covering the roots of the teeth. The main function of this tissue is to encore the tooth into the gums. Dental pulp, this is a soft tissue in the middle of the tooth within a hollow space called the pulp cavity. The pulp contains blood vessels that supplies neutrals to the tooth and no fibers that cause sensations, such as cold and pain. The main function of the pulp tissue is to create dentine.

How and Why Teeth Decay

Due to the toughness of the enamel, it takes four to six years for the enamel of adult teeth to become penetrated. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that live on the teeth. These bacteria actually stick to the enamel and reduce a substance called plaque. Plaque is a complex community of as many as four hundred different types of microscopic bacteria and other type of cells. There are more than one hundred billion bacteria in each milligram of plaque. When we eat food these bacteria come in contact with carbohydrates within the food and ingest these carbohydrates. This creates an acid which can dissolve the enamel in your teeth. This acid then begins to dissolve the minerals in the enamel and will eventually lead to small cracks and indentations. The result is that the enamel becomes weakened. If the bacteria within the plaque are not removed this weakening and decay will continue through the thickness of the enamel. The plaque then travels through the dental layers by tiny tubules and ends as pulp cavity.

After a few years and with poor dental hygiene the enamel becomes so weakened that no longer can support itself and collapse.This creates a cavity and it will require a filling. If this condition is not remedied the plaque will continue through the pulp cavity and infect the root of the tooth. This may cause an abbess to grow on the root which may then spread in the surrounding bone and even break through the gums causing a visible abbess in the mouth. Once the infection is spread this far root canal therapy will be required. At this point you will begin to feel pain and discomfort because the root and the tooth where the now fibers are located are now exposed to the outside. The key to preventing this decay is to have proper dental hygiene, including brushing, flossing and regular check-ups with your dentist.

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