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45 votes
45 votes
Excessive sugar intake is related to development of dental caries because

A. oral bacteria produce acids that dissolve tooth enamel when they metabolize sugars.
B. sugar leaches calcium and phosphorus out of teeth.
C. salivary amylase dissolves tooth enamel during carbohydrate digestion.
D. sugars make the saliva more alkaline, causing damage to tooth enamel.

User Byung
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1 Answer

6 votes
6 votes

Answer:

The correct answer is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dental caries is a chronic dynamic disease or process that occurs in the tooth structure in contact with microbial deposits. Among the factors that favor the development of dental caries is the excessive consumption of simple sugars. The sugars consumed with the diet constitute the substrate of the oral microflora and initiate the process of cariogenesis. Streptococcus can ferment sugars in the diet to produce primarily lactic acid as the end product of metabolism. This lowers the pH and demineralizes tooth enamel. Cariogenic microorganisms are characterized because they are capable of transporting carbohydrates in competition with other microorganisms, which could be present in the plaque; the rapid fermentation capacity of this substrate made up of sugars and starch and its acidic capacity - acid products - and acidic acid - capable of performing various functions under conditions of extreme acidity. The marked decrease in pH will contribute to the demineralization of the tooth, favoring the appearance of carious lesions in hard tissues: enamel, dentin and cementum.

User Quentin Revel
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