Ever since we were growing up, we were told that sugar can destroy our dental health. This is true because sugars from the food we eat leads to the formation of plaque and multiplication of bacteria in the mouth. By now you must have known some few things about tooth decay, cavities, and the importance of oral health and dental care.
Tooth decay, also known as dental cavities, is commonly caused by acids produced when bacteria breaks down sugar from plaque in the mouth. The hole that result from dental cavities will continue to grow larger if it’s left untreated. When the tooth is exposed to constant acid attacks, the tooth enamel will continue to wear down and also lose its minerals. Bad breath and black spots on the tooth enamel are the early signs of dental cavities. It is important to prioritize oral health and practice proper dental care to prevent and reverse cavities.
At this point in time, the tooth decay can be reversed, there are various ways available to remineralize and repair the damages on the enamel. Minerals gotten from saliva, fluoride from toothpaste or other sources can help remineralizes the enamel, helping it to repair itself. If the enamel is not getting enough minerals that it will use to replenish the ones lost. it will be weakened and destroyed leading to the formation of cavity.
Gum line cavity is a type of dental cavity that occurs along the gum lines. This type of cavity usually takes a little longer to heal. In this article am going to reveal to you ways that you can heal cavities naturally and prevent tooth decay. Most people usually think that fillings is the only option to treat cavities. But this is not true, a few changes of lifestyle can help to heal or prevent cavities naturally.
Within few seconds from now I will explain some basic principles on how to stop the tooth decay process and even reverse it from forming cavities.
Ways To Reverse Tooth Decay
1. Take vitamins and supplements
Vitamin B, D, magnesium and iron are some of the essential nutrients that is very important for the health of the bones, teeth and gums. Taking more of this nutrients daily can help to control inflammation, they also help to prevent or reverse cavities. Certain vitamins helps in the active production of saliva, few others help in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. I hope you know the importance of saliva in the mouth right? If not let me tell you.
Saliva contains strong antibacterial properties that help reverse cavities and clean tooth enamel by eliminating harmful dental bacteria. It also aids in clearing away food particles. Incorporating vegetables, whole grain foods, and seafood like salmon, canned tuna, and sardines into your diet can provide essential vitamins for maintaining dental health. Alternatively, your dentist can recommend supplements to support oral hygiene.
2. Use fluoride
According to Nidcr fluoride is a mineral and it is great for preventing the progression of tooth decay. It can reverse or stop, early tooth decay. Flouride has the ability to protect the teeth, by replacing the minerals lost from the enamel. It also reduces the ability of bacteria to produce acids that can wear down the teeth enamel. If you already have cavities or tooth decay, flouride can help to reverse the damages.
There are so many sources of fluoride for dental health, including tap water or fluoridated products. Many dental care product manufacturers now add fluoride as one of their ingredients to promote tooth enamel remineralization and prevent cavity formation. Fluoridated water is now readily available to the general public by adding fluoride into public water supply.
If you drink only bottled water, you might end up having dental cavities. This is because bottled water does not contain enough fluoride that can prevent cavities. You should talk to your dentist, he can prescribe additional fluoride in the form of a tablet, varnish, or gel for dental remineralization.
3. Reduce your sugar intake
If you usually eat lots of sugary foods daily, then it’s time to cut down the amount of sugar you eat. Eating much of foods that contains sugar or starch can lead to plaque formation and increase the risk of cavity development. When left in the mouth for some period of time, these sugary foods attract bacteria that use them to produce acids, which can erode the protective layers of the teeth and hinder remineralization.
Naturally, your saliva can help with remineralization and fight off this acid attack. But if you continue to eat foods and drinks containing sugar and starches frequently all day, the constant acid attacks will cause repeated loss of minerals from your teeth, eventually leading to the development of a cavity.
Taking much of sugary foods when you already have tooth decay will only make the problem go worse. According to the British Medical Journal, it’s suggested that you switch to foods that contains helpful minerals. For example, instead of consuming more of sugary foods, you should switch to calcium rich foods. Foods such as kale, collards, broccoli and dairy contains more of calcium, they can help strengthen and repair the damages on your teeth.
4. Practice good oral hygiene
Regular brushing and flossing are two of the most important ways of preventing tooth decay and cavities. Brushing with fluoride toothpaste has shown to play a significant role in for preventing cavities. When choosing your tooth brush, toothpaste or mouthwash make sure that you pick the right ones. Those that have antibacterial and remineralizing properties works just fine in fighting cavities. You should also consider changing your toothbrush after every three months, ecpecially after battling with mouth infection, virus or cold.
Apart from brushing and flossing, there are natural remedies that can reverse tooth decay and cavities. I don’t know if you have heard about oil pulling before, it’s believed that oil pulling contains cleansing, moisturizing and antiseptic properties. This involves swishing an oil such as coconut oil for about 10-20 minutes in the mouth, this reduces plaque, prevents infections and also heals different dental problems.
5. Use antacids
If you experience eating disorders, then taking antacids can be a good idea. Eating disorder usually results to frequent vomiting, the acids from the stomach erodes the teeth, causing teeth sensitivity and decay. This is when these acids always come in contact with the teeth. Also people who suffer from acid reflux disease, are also advised to take antacids in order to reduce the acidic environment in their stomach.
6. Eat tooth-healthy meals
You should be mindful of the things that you eat, especially sticky sugary and acidic foods, as they are not good for your teeth. Most of these foods create an imbalanced pH level in the mouth, which is suitable for harmful bacteria to survive and multiply. Acidic foods such as citrus fruits and sugar can cause damage and create an environment that harbors harmful bacteria. To counteract this, consider incorporating remineralization techniques into your oral care routine.
If you normally drink coffee daily and you usually have frequent cavities, then it’s time you’ll need to look for alternatives. Green tea is a great alternative for remineralization. It contains powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making it effective for fighting cavities and improving oral health.
If you are the type that love chewing gums, your dentist can recommend sugarless gums for you. Most varieties of sugarless gums contain natural sweetener called xylitol. Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol, it plays a significant role in reducing plaque formation and also in preventing tooth decay.
Final Thoughts
In order to bring a lasting solution to teeth cavities, regular visits to your dentist will be needed. Regular oral cleanings and examinations is very important. During your visit to your dentist, if you suspect that you are not getting enough flouride. You should let your dentist know, if necessary he can apply a fluoride gel or varnish to your teeth.
However, on your own, you can limit or reverse the damages on your teeth by following these simple steps. If you have any other suggestions or questions kindly drop a comment below. For more information about tooth decay and cavities, learn more here.