Indians have never been conscious about oral hygiene. The primary reason behind most cases of tooth decay is our diet. Studies have shown that certain ethnic groups are more prone to tooth decay as diet has a huge impact on the health of teeth. Delhiites especially -- with their high consumption of sweets, potato based products, white flour based products and junk food are at high risk of tooth decay.

There are already millions of bacteria present in the mouth and they act upon the food particles, especially carbohydrates to produce an acid which erodes the tooth. When bacteria acts upon the food particles, it produces dental plaque that builds around the tooth almost every eight hours and harms the teeth, which is why frequent brushing is essential. It's not only consumption of food rich in carbohydrates and sugar that brings about tooth decay but also the frequency of consumption : ``Having three helpings of a sweet dish once a day is better than having one helping three times a day,'' says Dr Neeraj Verma of Apollo Hospital.

A diet rich in calcium and fluoride also help strengthen the tooth enamel. Fluoride is the biggest enemy of dentist as it prevents tooth decay to a large extent. In many developed countries water is fluoridated. ``In places like USA, fluoridation of water and fluoride based tooth pastes have helped reduce tooth decay to a large extent. However, such measures are absent in India'', says Dr. Ramesh Mathur, Hod, department of dentistry, Max Healthcare.