Why do we get cavities?

The bacteria that break down food on your teeth leave behind a by-product called plaque. Bacteria love plaque and they love to multiply, so when plaque builds up on a tooth the bacteria stick to it and cultivate a colony. If ignored this can mineralise to become hard-to-remove tartar. The bacteria can also secrete an acid that causes tiny holes to develop in a tooth’s enamel. More bacteria fill these holes and start to erode the soft dentin below. To prevent the many oral diseases that can arise due to plaque, dentists must remove all the plaque that creates this home for germs. The only way to ensure all the plaque has been removed is to wear it away with a drill. The sterile hole is then filled with a material like amalgam.