• Teeth are covered with a hard, outer coating called enamel.
• A tooth is primarily composed of minerals.
• Plaque is a sticky colorless film of bacteria that adhere to teeth.
• Plaque use sugar to produce acids, which eat away at the tooth's enamel.
• Saliva constantly remineralizes teeth, protecting them from decay.
• Dental caries (decay) is the result of an infectious process.
• Early decay can be reversed by natural remineralization.
• A cavity is decay that has progressed to the point it forms a hole in the tooth.
• Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that causes gums to bleed with brushing.
• Tobacco use is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of gum disease.
• Within 3-5 minutes after exposure to sugar the teeth begin to demineralize.
• Chewing sugar-free gum after meals results in a significant reduction in the formation of dental cavities.
• People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing infections, including gum disease.
• Some people are genetically more prone to severe gum disease than others.