Prevent Cavities and the Bacteria That Cause Them–Naturally

Cavities are mostly due to a stealthy bacterium that lives in our mouths–the good news is that certain natural remedies can help reduce them.

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Streptococcus mutans feeds on sugars from our diet, and produce lactic acid as a byproduct. This acid demineralizes tooth enamel and leads to cavities. It can also thrive in conditions of low pH, or acidity, favoring an environment below pH 6. One to six on the pH scale is acidic, seven is neutral, and eight to fourteen is alkaline. The pH level of our mouths is affected by the foods and drinks that we consume, and a more acidic environment erodes enamel and leads to cavities.