{"id":118931,"date":"2020-02-10T14:01:01","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T13:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zahnzentrum-kronberg.de\/saying-goodbye-to-karius-and-baktus-how-tooth-decay-really-develops-and-why-thats-good-news\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T18:05:31","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T17:05:31","slug":"saying-goodbye-to-karius-and-baktus-how-tooth-decay-really-develops-and-why-thats-good-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zahnzentrum-kronberg.de\/en\/saying-goodbye-to-karius-and-baktus-how-tooth-decay-really-develops-and-why-thats-good-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Saying Goodbye to Karius and Baktus: How Tooth Decay Really Develops (and Why That\u2019s Good News)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The children’s book about the two tooth trolls with pickaxes is a classic. However, from a medical perspective, this image is outdated. Tooth decay is not the destructive rage of little monsters, but a biochemical process<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

Why is this distinction important for you? Quite simply: if you understand that tooth decay is a metabolic disease of dental plaque, you also understand how to stop the process before<\/em> a drill becomes necessary. Let\u2019s take a look under the microscope. <\/p>\n\n

The Development Process<\/h2>\n\n

1. The Scene: Biofilm instead of “plaque”<\/h3>\n\n

Billions of bacteria live on your teeth. This is completely normal and healthy. These microorganisms organize themselves into a complex network known as biofilm<\/strong> (formerly plaque). As long as this ecosystem is in balance, nothing happens to your teeth. It only becomes critical when we feed the “wrong” bacteria. <\/p>\n\n

2. The Fuel: Sugar is the engine<\/h3>\n\n

Certain bacteria in the biofilm (e.g., streptococci<\/em> and lactobacilli<\/em>) love fermentable carbohydrates. This includes not only obvious household sugar but also fructose, starch (chips, crackers), and hidden sugars in processed foods. <\/p>\n\n

The chemical process:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    \n
  1. The bacteria metabolize the sugar lightning-fast.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. As a waste product, they excrete organic acids<\/strong> (e.g., lactic acid).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. This acid causes the pH level in the mouth to drop suddenly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n

    3. The Attack: Decalcification (demineralization)<\/h3>\n\n

    Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, but it has a weakness: acid. If the pH level drops below a critical limit (approx. 5.5 to 5.7), minerals such as calcium and phosphate dissolve from the enamel lattice. The tooth becomes porous. This is the beginning of tooth decay\u2014long before a cavity is visible. We call this initial caries<\/strong> (often recognizable as a chalky white spot). <\/p>\n\n

    4. The Rescue: Your saliva as a repair team<\/h3>\n\n

    Normally, the body has its own repair system: saliva.<\/p>\n\n