Even with the benefit of fluoridation and
dental health education, Tooth Decay is still the most common global disease
affecting every family including 11 million Australians each year with the
economic impact of heart disease and diabetes. Hospital admissions for children
needing extractions has increased and there is a four-fold increase in decay
between 12 and 21.
All cavities occur from years of acid demineralisation that exceeds saliva and fluoride remineralisation where food left on teeth after eating. Over 80% of cavities occur inside pits and fissure in chewing surfaces where brushing cannot reach.
Recent
health reports like “‘A
healthier future for all Australians’ (item
86), all recommend oral health promotion needs evidence based improvement like www.supertoothndk.org
Plaque (1) that changes carbohydrate
like sugar to acid, is easy to see with red food dye, yet few cavities occur on
these tooth surfaces (2) where the brush, toothpaste and saliva have easy access
to remove food, reduce resident plaque, neutralise acid and remineralise
demineralised tooth.
Most food is noticeably left trapped between teeth, yet over 80% of cavities occur deep inside pits and fissures in chewing surfaces of back teeth (3) where acid demineralization results from food left trapped under chewing pressure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Dentists halt the progression of tooth
decay with fissure sealants (4) that block food being trapped and changed to
acid demineralisation.
Supertooth experiments include a
simple glass model of a fissure in a tooth (5)
that replicates how chewing forces food between teeth and inside pits and
fissures displacing previously trapped meals or snacks where brushing cannot
reach.
The photo (6) of a fissure sealants applied under chewing pressure and then the tooth was dissolved in acid, shows the sealant forced deep inside pits and fissures confirming that food or toothpaste are also forced deep inside pits and fissures under chewing pressure as seen in www.supertoothndk.org
5.
6. 
Chewing special sugarless foods, even nuts
or cheese before eating can act like fissure sealants. Chewing fibre like celery
or special chewing gum after eating helps force saliva inside trapped food to
dilute carbohydrate like sugar, neutralise acid and remineralise demineralised
tooth.