Eli5: why is when a bone shatters it can rebuild itself but when a tooth gets a hole in it it just keeps eating away at it
In: Biology
the tooth doesn’t eat itself away.
the reason you get cavities is bacteria and sugary food.
your mouth is full of bacteria. when you eat very sugary food the bacteria starts to eat the sugar in your mouth and the result of the sugar breakdown is acidic. This acid attacks your tooth surface until it makes a hole in the hard outer layer, and after that the acid keeps eating the softer inside layer.
if you eat less sugary stuff and/or brush and floss your teeth regularly you will not get any cavities (or will get a lot less- some people are more predisposed to cavities than others, genetics and the shape/spacing of your teeth also plays a role. if your teeth are tightly packed together then it’s very hard to clean between the teeth and bacteria accumulate there. if your teeth are spaced apart more than it’s easier to clean between them and you have a lower chance of getting cavities between your molars)
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