What Causes Tooth Decay?

Decayed areas will show up as small dark-coloured areas in the grooves and crevices on the biting surfaces. They also appear as dark-grey areas between the teeth. In these little cracks and fissures, food is sometimes packed and can be difficult to remove. As the bacteria in the mouth begin to act on it, an acid substance is produced. This acid is what does the damage. Of course, it takes several acid attacks eventually to break through the outer enamel surface. Once it makes its way into the inner tooth structure, the dentine, this process proceeds much more rapidly, as the dentine is much softer.
So the time to stop the process is before it starts, by removing food particles, especially the carbohydrates, from the teeth quickly. This means teaching children to brush after snacks as well as after meals.
Brush any suspicious areas very thoroughly. If the area is still dark or discoloured after careful brushing, a trip to the dentist is in order. The smaller the cavity when discovered, the simpler the repair will be.