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Chemistry Applications Essay

Tooth Decay and Fluoridation  Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. It is composed mainly of hydroxyapatite,(OH. Although this substance may seem impenetrable, acids have the ability to break it down. When the enamel is dissolved by acids, it creates holes in the teeth, also called cavities. Foods, saliva, and other forms of sugar all contribute to the buildup of plaque and lead to cavities. There are ways to prevent it, such as using fluoride treatments.

 The intricate chemistry of tooth decay helps to explain the cause behind the cause of cavities. First of all, sugars like sucrose, and bacteria in the saliva tend to stick to the enamel of teeth. Then, glycoproteins which consist of carbohydrates and proteins, stick to the teeth forming plaque. A special bacteria called //Streptococcus mutans// adhere to the glycoprotein in the plaque. This bacteria has the ability to lead to cavities because it contains an enzyme break down sucrose into fructose and glucose, both C 6 H 12 O 6 . The fructose undergoes glycolysis, or the breakdown of sugar to gain energy. Under aerobic conditions, or in an atmosphere without oxygen, the final product of the anaerobic cellular respiration is lactic acid. This acid then breaks apart the hydroxyapatite molecule because it lowers the pH and increases acidity. For example, in the equation (OH (s) + 8 (aq) à  10 (aq) +6+ 2H 2 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">O <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11px;">(l), <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">the acid is added to the hydroxapatite which breaks it apart into calcium ions in addition to water, which are all products. The acid and the hydroxapatite are the reactants. Stomach acid reflex can also cause the breakdown of enamel. Now that the main molecule in tooth enamel is broken down, it is dissolved, leaving holes in the teeth. The plaque has progressed to a cavity once it creates holes. This process can be referred to as tooth decay.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> There are ways to prevent tooth decay. An essential way to make the enamel more resistant to the acid attack is using fluoride. The fluoride ion can react with the hydroxapatite, creating the mineral. This coats the enamel. The F- replaces the OH-, therefore it has stronger protection because it is a weaker base then the OH-. The fluoride can be added to drinking as a preventative to cavities. It may be added as NaF or Na <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11px;">2 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">SiF <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9px;">6 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. When 2H <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11px;">2 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">0 joins with, it breaks up into 6F- and 4H+ and SiO <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 9px;">2 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. Here, the 6F released is the fluoride which replaces the OH-. Fluoride can also be put on teeth as a treatment in dental offices. Also, fluoride can be found in many toothpastes. Sodium fluoride (NaF), stannous fluoride (SnF <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11px;">2 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">), and other compounds are found in these toothpastes at 0.1% by mass. If cavities do occur, the tooth must be filled with a cap. If it is a more serious cavity the tooth must either be removed or must undergo a root canal in which the nerve and blood vessels are removed from the inside of the tooth. Also, a diet low in sugars and brushing after eating can help reduce the risk of obtaining a cavity. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Overall, tooth decay can be a serious problem when it is severe enough because acids break down enamel. Plaque is the first stage in forming a cavity, so it is crucial to have dental checkups in order to have fluoride treatments to prevent the dissolving of hydroxapatite in the teeth.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Works Cited <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Brown, Theodore L., et al. //Chemistry the Central Science.// New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2009. Print. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ophardt, Charles E. “Sugar and Tooth Decay”. //Virtual Chembook//. n.p, 2003. Web. 21 December 2012. [].