Your teeth are alive!
Just like the rest of your body, your teeth are alive. They are composed of living tissue organized in a genius self-sustainable design. There are miles of microscopic micro-tubular highways inside each of your teeth connected to a vital pulp.
Maintaining a balanced oral microbiome is the key to maintaining oral health.
Dr. Christofer Hatzis
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
The Oral Environment
There is a whole universe of good and bad bacteria that inhabit your mouth.
Fact 1
Oral Microbiome
In this ecosystem, the good bacteria protects our teeth while the bad bacteria causes cavities and disease.
Acid Production
The response of dental plaque to sugars is acid production. This acid is what drives the caries (cavity) process. The plaque becomes most acidic 5-10 minutes after eating/drinking sugars, followed by a gradual recovery to its starting value, usually in 30 minutes.
Fact 2
Fact 3
Stephan curve
The pH scale is simply a measure of how acidic an environment is, and 7 is the neutral point. The Stephan curve says that when the pH drops below 5.5, your teeth will begin to demineralize/dissolve. It takes about 30 minutes for your saliva to get out of the danger zone where your teeth are susceptible to demineralization.
Oral Care Routine
Understanding how the production of acid in our mouths is vital to naturally prevent tooth decay. Whenever carbohydrates are consumed, try and immediately follow them with water and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping.