From an early age, your dentist will remind you that good dental health begins with regular brushing and flossing. Unfortunately, despite your best intentions, you will likely develop tooth decay at some point in your life, according to the US Centers for Dental Health. Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 90% of adults age 20 and older have at least one cavity.
According to Health, tooth decay isn’t the end of the world, but it’s something you need your dentist to take care of without delay.
Can you get rid of cavities at home?
The short answer: No, and at-home decay removal isn’t recommended, especially if the decay has progressed from the hard outer shell of the tooth’s enamel to the softer dentin underneath.
You can think of the progression of tooth decay as the more sugars and carbohydrates the bacteria eat, the more acid your teeth secrete and break down, and the bigger the tooth decay, the more likely you are to need a filling.
If you have a tooth cavity large enough to extend into the dentin, the inner surface of the tooth, you cannot get rid of it.
Also, a cavity develops faster on the tooth surface, so you don’t want to wait to see your dentist for treatment.
If a cavity is “small and barely visible” in the enamel of your teeth and is something known as a “clock” or what dentists call “primary decay” you can take steps to keep it from getting bigger.
“If it’s between your teeth, dentists will recommend keeping up with flossing, brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, and perhaps use a fluoride mouthwash to strengthen the enamel and prevent the cavity from growing larger. cavity is bigger than a wound watch, it’s hard to keep it that size.” It is likely to progress over time.
For older adults with lots of cavities, especially around the crowns, or for young children who have baby teeth that will soon fall out.
As a child, getting adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D is key to maintaining bone strength and growth. As an adult, taking supplemental vitamins won’t necessarily help your teeth, as they will no longer grow or develop. We cannot rely on vitamins or supplements to strengthen teeth or fight tooth decay.
Sugar-free chewing gum won’t help you get rid of tooth decay, but it does provide other benefits, including keeping you away from snacks and carbohydrates. If you’re a snacker and need something in your mouth, sugar-free gum is a good alternative because it won’t be Got carbs or sugar in your mouth?
How to prevent tooth decay the right way
In addition to daily brushing and flossing, Dr. Clemons offers these tips for healthier teeth:
Try not to snack often
When we have a patient with a lot of cavities, we talk about the frequency of their meals. If the patient consumes frequent snacks or drinks (no water) throughout the day, bacteria throughout the day can use those carbohydrates and acids to form cavities.” As a good rule of thumb practice, stick to three meals a day and try to limit snacking.
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 get rid of the food source that the bacteria are consuming
Chew sugarless gum
In addition to preventing you from snacking, sugar-free chewing gum stimulates the flow of saliva as saliva protects your teeth from decay. It has a more neutral pH and the bacteria that produce tooth decay are more active in an acidic environment .
Don’t rely on mouthwash alone to clean your teeth
Dissolving some mouthwash in your mouth and be done with it is not a foolproof way to prevent tooth decay. Instead, you need to make sure you remove all food and any plaque that has built up between your teeth.
Mouthwash may be a useful adjunct for some patients, but it is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, as mouthwash cannot actually do the job of removing plaque and bacteria.
Make sure you visit your dentist regularly
If you think you might be developing tooth decay, it’s best to see a dentist sooner rather than later. Letting the gaps progress could lead to bigger problems in the future.
