In what way are teeth affected by flourides and acids?

Protection: Cavities are caused when bacteria convert sugars into acids and the acids make holes in the teeth, allowing bacteria to penetrate the enamel and infect the tooth (abscess). Fluoride converts the structure of the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to bacteria/acid damage.

Fluorapetite : Tooth enamel is a crystal structure primarily composed of hydroxyapatite . The Fluoride ion will displace the hydroxyl group and make fluorapetite which will resist to being dissolved by acids than hydroxyapatite. This is how Fluoride strengthens the tooth and decreases decay from acids.

2 opposite effects: Flourid bonds to teeth enamel making it stronger to fight decay and destructions, while acids weaken the enamel by disolving the organic matter in the enamel making it weaker in front of decay ..

Answers following: Acids of any type erode teeth. Many sodas, sports drinks, even lemonade are acidic. Fluorides in toothpastes, rinses and treatments at the dentists fortify your tooth structure and make them more decay resistant. And specially dosed fluoride ingested during tooth development make for a lifetime of 60% fewer cavities on average- facts backed by over 100 years of research!

Reinforces or weaken: Flouride can reinforce and strengthen the structure of teeth. Acid can slowly desolve teeth and cause cavities. The purpose of Flouride in drinking water is so Flouride gets formulated into tooth structure while the tooth is being made, and making it MORE resistant to cavity formation (from acid produced by certain bacteria)