Image: Enamel-fluoride-remineralization

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Description: Diagram of demineralization and remineralization of dental enamel in the presence of acid and fluoride in saliva and plaque fluid. Acid is produced by bacteria in plaque fluid that consume sugar; this in turn partially dissolves (demineralizes) the enamel's carbonated hydroxyapatite crystals. Fluoride in plaque fluid counteracts this process, causing the enamel to remineralize with a surface coating of a fluoroapatite-like substance, which is harder to dissolve.
Title: Enamel-fluoride-remineralization
Credit: Own work using: Featherstone JD (2008). "Dental caries: a dynamic disease process". Aust Dent J 53 (3): 286–91. DOI:10.1111/j.1834-7819.2008.00064.x. PMID 18782377.
Author: User:Eubulides
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes

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Water fluoridation

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