eli5 How do teeth decay over a lifetime but we find teeth in skeletons and fossils all the time?

Question

eli5 How do teeth decay over a lifetime but we find teeth in skeletons and fossils all the time?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Bodies decay because bacteria eat the flesh. Bones (including teeth) are not edible to bacteria.

However, when *you* eat food, you coat your teeth in edible sugars and other foods. The bacteria then eat these foods and multiply and they excrete acid as they do. That acid is what rots your teeth.

So the only reason teeth decay over your lifetime is because you’re coating them in food bacteria can eat.

That’s why it’s so important to preventing tooth decay to brush that leftover food off.