how does sugar give you cavities?

Answer 1

Bacteria feed on it. Sugar is the basic food for all lifeforms.

Answer 2

I'm a dentist.

Various types of bacteria live in your mouth. A certain type, known as Strep mutans (among others) are able to inhabit the surface of your teeth by creating something called "plaque", which is a sort of bacteria hotel, if you will, consisting of bacteria and dextrans (and probably other bacterial products) that allow the bacteria to reside on the teeth.

These bacteria consume sugars, and produce lactic acid as a waste product. This lactic acid is what causes tooth decay.

How?

Your teeth are primarily mineral in structure, especially the enamel covering. In fact, it is 97% mineral content (i.e. hydroxyapatite, a crystal containing calcium). In the presence of saliva, your enamel demineralizes and remineralizes constantly, i.e. as I understand it, calcium is pulled out and replaced, respectively. At normal pH (around 7 or so), the demineralization is counteracted by remineralization, and your tooth remains healthy. There is no net breakdown of your enamel.

Enter the bacteria on the surface of the teeth, which, in the presence of sugars, create their lactic acid which lowers the pH at the surface of your teeth. When the pH hits 5.5 (which is more acidic than normal), demineralization occurs more rapidly than remineralization, and there is a net breakdown of enamel. The tooth is now on its way to developing a "cavity".

As this process continues, more and more enamel is decalcified, and it eventually becomes weaker and breaks away, leaving an actual cavity (i.e. a pit). Once the demineralization has broken through the enamel down to the dentin, which is less mineralized and thus easier for the bacteria to destroy, the cavity progresses more rapidly, leaving in its wake mushy, demineralized dentin.

So, why do we dentists recommend fluoride? Because fluoride is readily incorporated into the hydroxyapatite of our teeth (especially on the surface). When demineralization occurs in the presence of fluoride (and normal surface pH), the fluoride will be taken up by the mineral structure of our enamel, thus creating a crystal called fluoroapatite which is more resistant to the aforementioned destruction by bacterial acids.

Fluoride can be used topically for adults, and systemically for kids who have teeth that are developing in the bone. Obviously, the latter is more effective, because it ensures that the teeth will have a good portion of fluoroapatite in them, and thus will be more resistant to decay. Applying fluoride to teeth topically is good, but is obviously not as good as having it incorporated into the tooth as it develops. Be careful though, as too much fluoride can cause a condition known as fluorosis, which is characterized by brown, mottled teeth that are weaker.

Answer 3

Bacteria that normally live in your mouth can eat the sugar and use it to multiply. While they do this, they make a covering around their cells called a capsule. This capsule is composed of many sugar molecules linked together into a polysaccharide. This capsule helps the bacteria stick to your teeth. They multiply on your teeth, forming what is called a biofilm. The biofilm consists of the bacteria and their capsules in a layer on your teeth. As the bacteria use the sugar you eat, they also produce an acid waste called lactic acid. This acid causes the enamel on your teeth to slowly dissolve and this is what causes cavities.

Answer 4

basically its a chemical reaction, some of the stuff thats in sugar forms a weak acid which over time reacts with the minerals in your teeth causing holes - cavities

Answer 5

well, the sugar eats away at your teeth. I was born with no enamal on my teeth, so it is twice as bad for me. It is also painful to get your teeth fixed if you cant get numb! If the cavity does not get fixed soon, it will eventually evlove into a worse problem!

Answer 6

Well, the sugars eat your teeth and the tooth starts to rot.

Answer 7

(8) Brush your teeth round and round, side to side up, and down and your teeth will be so shiny and happy(8)

Answer 8

because it sits on your teeth and rots them and puts tiny holes in them.
=)

Answer 9

brush ur teeth nd ull have nuttin to worry bout.

Answer 10

don't know i'm not as cluless as you but you need help go to a dentist