So what is tooth decay?
Tooth decay is the visual symptom of a bacterial infection or imbalance. Teeth are coated with an invisible thin film, known as plaque biofilm. Both good (healthy) and bad (harmful) bacteria live within the plaque biofilm. The biofilm primarily protects the teeth, however when a population shift occurs and the biofilm becomes overrun with bad bacteria this causes a bacterial imbalance occur which leads to tooth decay.

By increasing your protective factors, healthy bacteria is encouraged.

I regularly brush and floss my teeth, could I be at risk?
Yes, you could be at risk of tooth decay. Your oral hygiene is important and should continue to be a part of your daily routine, but it alone will not stop tooth decay. The most effective way to identifiy the bacterial infection or imbalance, is to have your dentist do a screening test, such as the CariScreen test. The bacteria is not visable to the eye, so it is better to be tested to ensure you are not growing the bad undesirable bacteria. The CariScreen test takes just 30 seconds and can be done as part of your routine dental examination. It's a simple as wiping a cotton bud across your teeth.

I have not had a cavity for several years!
That's fantastic. Everyone's bacterial balance will generally change a number of times throughout their life, so regular screening tests would be recommended to ensure you remain cavity free. Should your dentist identify a bacterial imbalance, then a preventative strategy can commence in order to correct any bacterial imbalance. Additional screening tests maybe required following initial oral rinse therapy to confirm the treatment outcome. If nothing is done you are likely to develop cavities before your next dental visit.

I recently had a cavity that was filled and restored?
Having had a cavity filled and restored removes pain and restores the tooth to a functional state. This alone does little to correct the bacterial infection that caused the cavity. Corrective bacterial therapy is also required to positively change the initial infection.

Should I use a daily mouth rinse?
Using a daily mouth rinse can be beneficial, however selecting the right product can be confusing. Many mouth rinses are acidic and contain a high amount of alcohol. This can dry your mouth and encourage the bad harmful bacteria to overpopulate the plaque biofilm. A daily mouth rinse should be alcohol free with an elevated alkaline pH, as this will encourage the good desirable bacteria to flourish. A recent review within the Australian Dental Journal, December 2008, highlighted the link between oral cancer and mouth rinses containing alcohol. The CariFree products are alcohol free.
Rift over mouth rinses and cancer - The Australian, 12 January 2009

How does Xylitol help prevent cavities?
Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is commonly found in birch tree sap and is naturally occurring in some fruits and vegetables. Xylitol is a 5-carbon sugar which differs from other sweetners which have 6-carbon sugar atoms. Xylitol functions differently to other sugars and works to prevent cavities in a number of ways:

• Bacteria cannot break down xylitol into acid as they do with all other fermentable sugars (i.e. sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, etc.).
• When bacteria intakes xylitol, they don't intake as much other fermentable sugars, reducing acid production.
• Xylitol helps prevent the bacteria from adhering to the enamel, which prevents them from reproducing.
• Xylitol used in conjunction with fluoride can be more effective at repairing and remineralizing teeth than fluoride alone.
• Xylitol works to control the number of acid-producing bacteria in the mouth, which helps to prevent cavities.

Why is pH so important?
pH is a measure of acidity. The lower the pH the more acidic something is and the higher the pH the more alkaline it is.

The pH scale range is from 1-14, where:
pH 1 is the most acidic.
pH 14 is the most alkaline.
pH 7, is neutral, like most water.

For years dentists have focused on the role of sugars in causing cavities. It is known that sugar feeds the bacteria that produce acids which in turn causes cavities. This process causes a prolonged acidic, low pH environment to occur. Researchers have challenged this theory to find that sugars alone are not the main cause of cavities and in fact that a lowing of the pH has proven to be the key factor. This makes a lot sense, especially for those people who regularly brush and floss their teeth but still grow cavities.

Elevating your oral pH on a continual basis will help to change the bacterial balance which favour a healthy desirable bacteria, plaque biofilm.

Once the visual symptoms present, its too late!

The CariFree System helps to break the cycle.