Hello,
There are six conditions which must take place for remineralization to occur:
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FIRST, sufficient minerals must be present in the saliva. Since foods are the principal source of minerals for the teeth, an adequate diet, or insufficient time chewing foods (which transfers minerals to the saliva) may result in mineral-poor saliva.
SECOND, a molecule of carbonic acid must be produced. Only a miniscule fraction of the carbon dioxide from the breath is converted to carbonic acid.
THIRD, the carbonic acid molecule must be produced in proximity to a mineral molecule, which it then dissolves into its ionic components.
FOURTH, this all has to occur in proximity to a demineralized spot in the hydroxyapatite latticework that requires that exact mineral ion.
FIFTH, that spot of the tooth has to be clean, so that the mineral-deficient spot is accessible. If it is, then the mineral ion is attracted to the "hole" in the lattice by the opposite electric charges of the ion and the "hole." Many different ions have the correct charge, but only the correct ion has the correct shape and size to fit into the "hole."
FINALLY, the carbonic acid must convert to carbon dioxide and water before any of the above circumstances change! When all this happens, a mineral ion is precipitated out of solution into the structure of the enamel. All mammals (dogs, monkeys, lions, mice, etc.) utilize this same carbonic acid remineralization mechanism. In the wild, animals generally have strong enamel, so we know that with a natural diet, this subtle and invisible process really is able to maintain the strength of enamel! This also indicates that with a pre-modern diet, humans probably also had strong enamel naturally. For strong enamel in today's world, though, the natural remineralization process needs to be augmented.
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This is taken from an article, 'Demineralization and Remineralization' at http://mizar5.com/demin.htm
I would like to add that since the demineralization process took place over time, expect the remineralization to also take a while. Also, for the cavities to have formed in the first place, there was a reason that the remineralization process did not keep up with the demineralization process. This is likely due to a probability of high risk levels of destructive microbes present in the mouth, such as strep mutans. It would be good to get tested for these microbes or others which can cause gum problems. However it is a fair assumtion that they were present and unless something has been directly done to change that, they probably still are, so two things are advised: Clean THOROUGHLY the oral cavity. Brush often, thoroughly and take your time. Take your toothbrush with you when you go watch the news. (Most people brush for about 35 seconds - until their mouths fill with foam from commercial toothpastes - and call it 'clean') It isn't so important what type of dentifrice you use as it is how long you do it. In fact, your saliva is a pretty darn good dentifrice. Clean between your teeth afterward with a tooth ribbon or floss and irrigate between the teeth, along and under the gumline. Definitely scrape or brush your tongue as well, since it harbors the same bacteria which does the damage and comes in direct contact with the teeth. Finally, enhance your diet with that which enhances your immune system, since cleaning AND nutrition are necessary for healthy teeth and gums. The rest of the body will certainly benefit as well.
Tom Cornwell
OraMedia.com
Demineralization and Remineralization