What is Tooth Decay

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04900840erlcjm.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists' Association</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greater St. Louis Dental Hygienists Asso"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a RDH?">What is a RDH?</A>   |   <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A>   |   <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A>   |   <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Plaque and Tartar">What is Plaque and Tartar</A>   |   <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A>   |   <B>What is Tooth Decay</B>   |   <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A>   |   <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Halitosis (Bad Breath)">Halitosis (Bad Breath)</A>   |   <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A>   |   <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04311c00egdysm.png"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0c396540.png" border=0 width="150" height="84" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Who We Are">Who We Are</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is a RDH?">What is a RDH?</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorsh">Facts You Need to Know About Preceptorship</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Parents Childrens Oral Health">Tips for Parents - Children's Oral Health</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Oral Cancer Information">Oral Cancer Information</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Brush and Floss Techniques">Brush and Floss Techniques</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Plaque and Tartar">What is Plaque and Tartar</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id38.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?">What is Periodontal (gum) Disease?</A></div> <div> <B>What is Tooth Decay</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Emergency Tips">Emergency Tips</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tooth Development">Tooth Development</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fluoride Facts">Fluoride Facts</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Halitosis (Bad Breath)">Halitosis (Bad Breath)</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bleaching Your Teeth">Bleaching Your Teeth</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links">Related Links</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us ">Contact Us   </A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dental Professionals">Dental Professionals</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Consumers">Consumers</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dental Professionals">Dental Professionals</A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> What is Tooth Decay</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="10d64780.png" border=0 width="100" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">        <IMG SRC="10e64760.png" border=0 width="100" height="118" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">     <IMG SRC="11064740.png" border=0 width="100" height="116" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">    <IMG SRC="11164780.png" border=0 width="100" height="120" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Tooth decay or cavities results when the acids produced by plaque break down the enamel of the tooth. Plaque thrives on the sugars of eaten foods that remain on the teeth, producing acids which attack tooth enamel. If a cavity is left untreated, it can grow and invade deeper into the tooth structure, eventually invading the nerve and causing an abcess. </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>