Getting Rid of Cavities without Visiting a Dentist

Getting Rid of Cavities without Visiting a Dentist

Jan 01, 2021

Cavities or small holes, also called caries develop on the hard surface of the teeth. The bacteria on the surface of your teeth feasting on sugars create acids. Streptococcus mutans are the common culprits among the bacteria causing cavities.

The bacteria create plaque, a sticky film on the teeth. The acids erode the minerals from the enamel, a coating on the exterior surface of the teeth made from calcium and phosphate. The erosion in the enamel causes tiny holes. The cavity forms after the acid penetrate the enamel and spread to the dentin.

Home Remedies For Cavities

Home remedies for cavities are based on studies from the 30s, suggesting that they are formed by the lack of vitamin D in the diet. The survey of kids who included vitamin D in their diets showed a reduction of cavities. However, better results were observed among people who added vitamin D to their diets removed grain products. This is because grains tend to stick to the teeth.

Not getting sufficient vitamin D makes teeth susceptible to cavities. Other risk factors include:

  • Xerostomia or a medical condition is reducing the quantity of saliva in the mouth.
  • Having foods that cling to the teeth, such as candy and sticky foods.
  • Frequently snacking on sugary foods or beverages like ice cream, cereals, or soda.
  • Improper dental cleaning.
  • Infant feeding at bedtime.

After tooth decay causes a cavity, getting rid of it at home is impossible. The following home remedies prove to be natural ways to prevent cavities or pre-cavities by remineralizing the weakened enamel before a cavity forms.

The home remedies recommended are the following:

Chewing Sugar-Free Gum

Clinical trials have shown that chewing sugar-free gum after meals are beneficial to remineralize the enamel. Xylitol, an ingredient in the gum, can stimulate saliva production and reduce Streptococcus mutans even as research is ongoing. Another element in sugar-free gum called casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate is believed to reduce Streptococcus mutans more effectively than xylitol.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps absorb calcium and phosphate from the food you have. Vitamin D can be obtained from dairy products like yogurt, milk, as well as the sun.

Brushing with Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride is essential to prevent cavities and remineralize the enamel. Regularly brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste can prevent cavities, confirms research. However, most studies involved children and adolescents. Therefore additional research is necessary on the elderly and adults.

Avoiding Sugary Foods

Having excessive sugary foods is a prime culprit for developing cavities. The WHO recommends reducing your sugar intake to below 10 percent of your total calorie intake for the day. If you must have sugar during the day, you must avoid sugary foods. Once you eliminate sugar from your diet, you allow your enamel to remineralize.

Oil Pulling

The ancient practice of oil pulling involving the swishing of oil in your mouth for around 20 minutes and spitting it out is also being claimed as practical to remove toxins from the body and preventing cavities. However, the claims aren’t backed by scientific evidence. However, clinical studies proved that oil pulling could reduce plaque, gingivitis, and other bacteria in the mouth just as effectively as chlorhexidine mouthwash.

Dental Visits

Regular dental visits should be a part of preventive dentistry because cavities develop painlessly and without any symptoms. Regular dental exams and cleanings from the dentist in Kennewick are the best way to identify a hole before it worsens. Early diagnosis helps dentists to provide effective treatments.

Dentists treat cavities in many ways by providing fluoride treatments or dental sealants to children, dental fillings, crowns, root canals, and tooth extractions.

The home remedies mentioned in this article won’t get rid of cavities by themselves. They merely prevent cavities from getting extensive and inhibit new holes from forming. Cavities are best treated by a dentist when they are detected early. It is why you must schedule regular dental appointments without exceptions. The home remedies merely help to remineralize the enamel’s softened or weakened area to prevent cavities from developing.

If you have a cavity on your tooth, the optimal method to get rid of them is to visit your dentist without relying on any other ways you may read in online publications or elsewhere. Preventing cavities is undoubtedly possible, but if you have them, the dentist is the best professional to help you get rid of them.