demineralizes

Demineralizes is the present tense form of the verb demineralize, meaning to remove minerals from a substance. The term is used across disciplines to describe processes that reduce mineral content in biological tissues, water, or materials.

In dentistry, demineralization describes loss of minerals, mainly calcium and phosphate, from tooth enamel due to acids produced by oral bacteria after consuming fermentable carbohydrates. If the process is halted and minerals are redeposited from saliva or fluoride-containing sources, remineralization can repair early lesions. Prolonged demineralization without remineralization contributes to white spot lesions and caries.

In medicine and biology, bones and other mineralized tissues can undergo demineralization during aging or disease (for example osteoporosis) or in experimental settings. Demineralized bone matrices, prepared by removing minerals, are used in grafting because they retain collagen and growth factors that support healing.

In water treatment and industrial contexts, demineralized water is produced by processes such as ion exchange, distillation, or reverse osmosis to remove dissolved minerals. This water reduces scaling and conductivity in equipment but can be more corrosive if impurity balance is not maintained and can support microbial growth without proper disinfection.