8. You may have heard that drinking soda or acid is bad for your teeth. The enamel on your teeth consists of the mineral hydroxyapatite, Ca (PO(OH) a. Is hydroxyapatite an acid or base? Hint: look at the ions in the chemical formula. b. Based on your answer to Sa, is acid good or bad for your teeth? Give reasons c. How does flouride prevent cavities? Hint: Fluoride reacts with hydroxyapatite in a double : 40 with acid. Solution Ans A. It is acidic since n sloution produces phosphate ion . Ans B. No it is not good, since it increase the production of Lactic acid and bacteria lives ore. Ans C. It is called remineralization. When fluoride is present during remineralization, the minerals fabriacted into the tooth enamel help strengthen teeth and prevent dissolution during the next demineralization phase. In this way, fluoride helps stop the decay process and prevent tooth decay.