View source for Dental caries

Due to mainly vegan [[food]] the risk of '''dental caries''' (tooth decay or cavities) is something the settlers have to consider. This disease is closely related to a bacterium called ''streptococcus mutans'', which feeds on [[carbohydrate]]s. There are several ways to keep the teeth healthy. The simplest is a special diet that makes the bacteria unhappy, that is, prevents them to metabolize and reproduce. Other methods involve cleaning the teeth mechanically, the development of a vaccine or treating them with some chemicals.


==Calcium Fluoride==
Calcium fluoride (CaF<sub>2</sub>) reduces cavities and may be imported from [[Earth]]. An [[autonomous colony]] may not be able to produce CaF<sub>2</sub> on their own. Concentrated [[Fluorine]] from Earth may be mixed with Martian calcium (which is common) and other substances to produce toothpaste. When a colony has sufficient industrial development it will be able to manufacture dental fluoride.  

The necessary chemical elements are expected to [[Origin of Mars and its Elemental Composition|exist on Mars]].  Even if Fluorine is not found in concentrated ores, it should be cheaper to extract it from low concentration sources than to ship it from Earth.

==Xylitol==
Cauliflower, plums and some other plants contain Xylitol, which may help to prevent dental caries. Xylitol can be chemically made from maize.
*Pure xylitol can be applied directly after each meal.
*The meals can be composed to be rich in carbohydrates at first, then clean the teeth mechanically, then have a ''dessert'' of low carb and xylitol rich food.


==See also==
*[[Limited medical care in an autonomous colony]]
*[[Limited medical care in a semi-autonomous colony]]

[[Category: Diet and Nutrition]]