Tooth cavities are severely damaged spots in the surface of your teeth. They begin as tooth decay and develop into small holes. Cavities are quite common and develop through bacteria buildup by snacking, sipping sweet drinks, and not maintaining good oral health.
Cavities that are neglected can worsen and spread to deeper layers of your teeth. This can lead to toothaches, infections, and tooth loss.
Now that we’re all afraid of developing cavities, how do you prevent or get rid of them?
How to prevent dental cavities
Of course, the easiest way to prevent cavities is to practice great oral health by consistently brushing and flossing your teeth and gums. Drinking water throughout the day and choosing healthy foods and drinks are also huge factors in preventing cavities.
But what happens if a cavity is already developing?
How to get rid of cavities
Pre-cavities can be spotted by experiencing tooth sensitivity, visible pits or holes, surface staining, and spontaneous pain. It’s true that if you have a mild cavity that the tooth enamel can heal itself, but it is difficult to get rid of them without professional dental treatment completely.
Some at-home cavities remedies include:
Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste
Adding fluoride helps build back enamel and fight bad bacteria in your mouth.
Cutting out unhealthy foods and sugary drinks
The main cause of tooth decay is a breakdown caused by sugar. By removing harmful sugars from your diet, the good bacteria have a chance to fight back and rebuild enamel.
Oil pulling
It is said that oil pulling (swishing coconut oil in your mouth for 15 minutes) would help mend your teeth. However, if oil pulling is used alone without diet and dental hygiene maintenance, then it is not an effective method to remedy tooth decay. Ultimately, it will not cure a severe cavity, but it does help reduce plaque and bad bacteria in your mouth.
Liquorice root
Although liquorice root contains a compound (glycyrrhizin) that helps reduce tooth decay, it is still not an alternative for dental hygiene maintenance. Similarly, to oil pulling, consuming liquorice root can help prevent tooth decay and gum disease when combined with regular dental maintenance and healthy habits. However, don’t mistake this for liquorice candy! As the sugars in lollies will only accelerate the decaying process.
The best way to get rid of cavities
The most effective, as well as the fastest way to get rid of a cavity is to seek professional dental treatment. Proper dental treatment can prevent a cavity from worsening by stopping the decaying process in its tracks and sealing the damaged area.
Dental Fillings
For cavities, we use a gentle, tooth coloured filling treatment. This procedure is not as daunting as it sounds. Your community dentist in Narellan will remove the tooth decay and replace it with a durable dental filling. Our fillings are made of strong, discreet looking material that strengthens your tooth and insulates it as well.
Root Canal Therapy
When a cavity becomes super severe, it can cause an infection in the dental pulp in which case; it requires root canal therapy. This treatment can require 3 appointments in which we remove the diseased pulp, clean the area, and fill it.
Regular dental checkups and cleans will help to ensure you and your family are on the right track for preventing cavities and maintaining good oral health.
Our friendly and knowledgeable dental team at Somerset Dental Care in Narellan will help you navigate your cavity issues and recommend the best treatment for your case. If you are concerned about developing cavities, get in touch with our experienced team today so that we can get your oral health back on track!
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