Dental decay is a bacterial disease, called Caries, that cannot be solved by only providing dental fillings, crowns (caps), or root canals. The bacteria enjoy living in an acidic oral environment and make acid from any form of carbohydrate that you eat. This acid demineralizes the teeth and causes holes, or dental decay. Your saliva acts like a buffer and dilutes this acid in order to protect your teeth. Thus, diet and medical condition can affect your risk for getting decay. In a healthy mouth, it takes about an hour for the saliva to neutralize the acid after eating. However, in individuals with acid reflux or dry mouth, for instance, this can compromise their ability to neutralize the acid and result in a higher risk of getting decay. At our office we test the bacteria on the teeth on an annual basis to determine risk of decay. This enables us to help treat patients with alternatives to “drilling and filling.” Dr. Carson Kutsch DDS Albany Oregon Dentist www.drkutsch.com