Many of the foods you eat can cause bacteria in your mouth to produce acids. Items such as sugared foods, cookies, candies, starches, such as bread, crackers, and cereal, also cause acids to form. These snacks or foods can cause acid attacks for a prolonged period, and your teeth may decay after these acid attacks.

Plaque can irritate the gums by making them red, tender, or bleed easily. After a while, gums may recede from the teeth, and pocket forms of bacteria and pus may form.
If these affected gums are not treated, the bone around the teeth can be infected and decay. The teeth may then become loose or need to be removed. Often gum disease is formed in this case, which is one of many causes in adult tooth loss.