For a long time, tooth decay was considered an unavoidable evil that eventually affects almost everyone. Today, we know better: caries is an infectious disease that is nearly 100% preventable. A “cavity” does not appear overnight. It is the final stage of a long process in which the chemical balance inside your mouth has been disrupted.
Once you understand this process, you regain control. As your dental team, we want to show you how to not only stop this process, but actively reverse it.
The principle: a constant tug of war
Your teeth are in a continuous chemical exchange. Bacteria in the biofilm (plaque) metabolise carbohydrates into acids. These acids dissolve minerals such as calcium and phosphate from the tooth enamel (demineralisation).
Under normal circumstances, your saliva repairs this damage by redepositing minerals back into the enamel (remineralisationCaries only develops when acid attacks last longer and occur more frequently than the repair phases. These are your four key strategies to win this tug of war.
Strategy 1: frequency matters more than quantity – give your teeth breaks
A common misconception is that the amount of sugar is what matters most. For your teeth, it is actually the frequency of sugar intake that causes the damage.
- The challenge: Every time you consume sugar or fermentable carbohydrates (including chips or white bread), the pH level in your mouth drops and minerals are lost from the enamel.
- The solution: Reduce the number of “sugar attacks”. Enjoy sweets as dessert directly after a main meal instead of snacking throughout the day. Give your saliva 3–4 hours between meals to repair and stabilise the teeth.
- Damit
Strategy 2: fluoride as a protective shield
Fluoride is indispensable in modern dentistry. It integrates into the tooth structure and makes enamel more resistant to acid attacks. Even more importantly, it accelerates the remineralisation process.
- At home: Use a fluoride toothpaste daily (adult dosage: approx. 1,450 ppm fluoride).
- Professional tip: After brushing, spit out the foam but do not rinse with water.This allows fluoride to remain on the teeth longer and work more effectively (spit, don’t rinse”).
- Nutrition: Since drinking water in Germany is not fluoridated (unlike in many international studies) fluoridated table salt at home.
Strategy 3: mechanical disruption of the biofilm
Bacteria organise themselves in a sticky biofilm. If it is not regularly disrupted, it matures and becomes more aggressive.
- The 2-minute rule: Brush twice daily for at least two minutes, systematically covering all tooth surfaces. Electric or sonic toothbrushes reduce technique errors and are often more effective than manual brushing.
- The problem zones: A toothbrush reaches only about 70% of all tooth surfaces. The spaces between teeth are the most common site for caries in adults. Daily use of dental floss or, even better, correctly sized interdental brushesis therefore not optional – it is essential.
Strategy 4: stimulate saliva
Your saliva is the most natural “mouthwash” you have. It neutralises acids and supplies the building blocks needed to repair enamel.
- Hydration: Adequate water intake ensures healthy saliva production.
- Chewing: Chewing sugar-free gum (ideally with xylitol) after meals mechanically stimulates saliva flow and helps neutralise acids more quickly.
When is it time to see a professional?
Even with excellent home care, there are areas you simply cannot reach. In addition, early-stage caries (initial demineralisation) is often painless and invisible to the naked eye.
- Diagnostics: We can detect mineral loss long before a cavity forms – and often reverse it with targeted fluoride therapy, without drilling.
- Prophylaxis During a professional dental cleaning (PDC), we remove biofilm from areas where toothbrushes and floss cannot reach.
Caries prevention is teamwork. You take care of daily oral hygiene – we provide professional monitoring and early intervention. Schedule your next check-up in time and keep the balance in your favour.