What Causes Cavities?
Dental cavities, or it may also be referred to as caries, are tiny holes that are present in the hard surface of your teeth. These cavities are caused by bacteria on the surface of your teeth which creates acid out of sugar. The most common bacteria is Streptococcus mutans.
This bacteria forms a sticky film which is known as plaque. The acids which are present in the plaque remove minerals from your enamel which is also known as demineralizing. Enamel is a coating of the teeth that is majorly made up of calcium and phosphate. This erosion causes tiny holes in your enamel and once the acid damage spreads into the dentin, which is layered underneath your enamel, a cavity is formed.
How To Get Rid of Cavities at Home?
Many studies suggest that cavities are caused due to lack of vitamin D in their diet. People who have included vitamin D in their diet have shown a reduction in cavities. However, the best results were achieved when grain products were removed from their diet and have included vitamin D. This is possible because grains stick to the teeth.
It is also noted that not getting enough vitamin D can make your teeth susceptible to cavities. Other risk factors for cavities which are included are:
Having any medical condition that reduces the amount of saliva present in your mouth or having a dry mouth.
- Eating foods that stick to your teeth, like chocolates, candies, and other sticky foods.
- Frequently binging on sugary foods or drinks, like ice cream and sodas.
- Heartburn caused due to acid.
- Inadequate cleaning of your teeth.
- Even bedtime infant feeding.
Once the cavity has penetrated the dentin, then it can be really difficult to get rid of it. Following are some of the home remedies which can help prevent cavities by remineralizing your weakened areas of enamel, before the cavity has developed:
- Sugar-free gum – Chewing any sugar-free gum after meals can help remineralize your enamel. As per some recent study, scientists have found that gum containing xylitol can stimulate saliva flow, raise the pH of plaque, and reduce S.mutans.
- Vitamin D – To help absorb calcium and phosphate from the food you eat, vitamin D plays a special role. Eating foods such as yoghurt, which is high in calcium and vitamin D, can help kids stay at bay from cavities. You can also get vitamin D from the sun.
- Cut out on sugary foods – Stop eating so much sugar. Eating sugar risks your cavities. It is recommended to reduce sugar intake to less than 10% of your total caloric intake for the day.
If you are going to eat sugar, then try not to include sugary products the whole day. Because, if sugar is absent, then your enamel gets a chance to remineralize, but if you are constantly eating sugar, then your teeth will not get a chance to remineralize.
- Oil pulling – Swish oil like coconut or sesame in your mouth for about 20 minutes and then spit it out. This way you are removing toxins that reduce plaque, gingivitis, and the number of bacteria in the mouth.
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste – Fluoride plays an eminent role in preventing cavities and remineralizing enamel. Hence, regularly brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste can help prevent cavities.
When Should I Visit a Dentist?
Did you know that dental problems, even deep cavities, develop without showing any pain or any other symptoms? Regular dental checkups are the best way to assess a cavity before it gets worse. So, early diagnosis can prove beneficial for easier treatment.
- Fillings – If the cavity has progressed beyond the enamel, then fillings are the main treatment.
- Fluoride treatment – In comparison to toothpaste, professional fluoride treatments contain more fluoride content. If any stronger fluoride is needed on a daily basis, then your dentist can help provide a prescription.
- Crowns – Crown is a cap that is placed over the tooth to prevent it from decaying extensively.
- Root canal – When tooth decay reaches the inner material of your tooth i.e., pulp, then a root canal treatment may be necessary.
- Tooth extraction – This is performed to remove the severely decayed tooth.
Conclusion
To sum up, home remedies alone can’t help in removing existing cavities on their own. But, yes, these methods can keep cavities from getting bigger and also prevent new ones from coming. The earlier a cavity is detected, it can thus be easier for your dentist to repair it. Hence, be sure to visit your dentist regularly.
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