Tooth decay isn’t the end of the world, but it’s something your dentist needs to take care of right away.
Can you get rid of cavities at home?
The short answer: No, and home cavity removal is not recommended. This is not possible, especially if the decay has moved away from the hard outer enamel of your teeth to the softer dentin underneath.
You can think of cavities developing because the more sugars and carbohydrates bacteria eat, the more acid you excrete and break down your teeth, and the more cavities you have, the more fillings you need.
If you have a cavity large enough to extend into the dentin, the inner surface of the tooth, you can’t get rid of it.
In addition, a cavity grows faster on the surface of the tooth, so there is no need to wait to see a dentist for treatment.
If a cavity is “small and barely visible” in the enamel of your teeth and is a “clockwise” or what dentists call a “primary cavity,” you can take steps to prevent it from developing.
“If it’s between your teeth, dentists will recommend that you continue to floss, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, and possibly use a fluoride mouthwash to strengthen the enamel and prevent the cavity from multiplying. But once the cavity becomes larger than an hour,” he writes. It’s hard to keep it that big. It is likely to progress over time.
For older adults with lots of cavities, especially around crowns – or young children with deciduous teeth that are falling out soon.
As a child, getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D is essential to maintaining the strength and growth of your bones. In adulthood, taking vitamin supplements will not necessarily help your teeth, as they will not grow or develop. We cannot rely on vitamins or supplements to strengthen teeth or fight cavities.
Sugar-free gum won’t help you get rid of cavities, but it does provide other benefits, including keeping you away from snacks and carbs. If you like snacks and need something in your mouth, sugar-free gum is a good alternative because it won’t. Do you have carbohydrates or sugars in your mouth?
How to prevent cavities the right way
Besides daily brushing and flossing, Dr. Clemons offers these tips for healthier teeth:
Try not to snack often
When we have a patient with many cavities, we talk about the frequency of his meals. If the patient has frequent snacks or drinks (without water) throughout the day, bacteria throughout the day can use these carbohydrates and acids to form cavities. As a general rule, stick to three meals a day and try to limit snacks.
Brush your teeth after eating a snack
If you tend to snack in the afternoon, make sure you brush your teeth after you’re done. What you want to do is eliminate the food source that the bacteria are consuming.
Chewing sugar-free gum
In addition to keeping you from snacking, sugar-free gum stimulates saliva flow because saliva protects your teeth from forming cavities. It has a more neutral pH and cavity-producing bacteria are more active in an acidic environment.
Don’t rely on mouthwash alone to clean your teeth
Rinsing the mouth on and off with mouthwash is not a surefire way to prevent cavities. Instead, you need to make sure that you remove all of the food and any plaque that has built up between your teeth.
Mouthwash can be a helpful addition for some patients, but it is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, because mouthwash cannot actually remove plaque and bacteria.
Make sure to visit the dentist regularly
If you think you’re developing a cavity, it’s best to see your dentist as soon as possible. Allowing spreads to advance could lead to bigger problems in the future.
