How to Reverse Tooth Decay and Prevent a Cavity
A dental practice may offer a variety of procedures, including cavity filling. The holes in the teeth caused by dental decay are known as cavities. If the decay is detected early enough, it may be easy to correct it before a cavity develops. Recognizing how and why tooth decay occurs may help you understand how to avoid or reverse it.
Cavities, despite improved dental hygiene, are not always preventable. In these circumstances, the therapy for the cavity is determined by how far the tooth decay has progressed. In this article, we’ll look at how cavities form, how to avoid them, and how to reverse dental decay and prevent a cavity.
What Causes Tooth Decay?
Tooth decay and cavity formation occur when your teeth are introduced to acids generated by mouth bacteria. Regular contact with these acidic leftovers may gradually lead to a disruption in the core minerals in your teeth. There are five phases of tooth decay that lead to the formation of a cavity:
Demineralization
When the enamel comes into contact with acid-producing bacteria reacting with carbohydrates and starches, tooth decay begins.
Enamel decay
The second phase of degradation occurs when the enamel continues to deteriorate. Cavities may start to form in your teeth at this period.
Dentin decay
When decay penetrates the dentin, the soft tissue beneath the enamel, it enters the third phase of tooth decay. The cavity may be sore at this stage of deterioration.
Pulp decay
Once the cavity has entered the pulp, which contains the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth, the irritation becomes more severe, indicating that you may have entered the final stage of decay.
Abscesses
These can happen when germs within the cavity migrate underneath the pulp and produce a pus pocket. A dental abscess may go overlooked in certain circumstances, although abscesses are usually excruciatingly painful.
Ways To Reverse Tooth Decays
Implementing dietary or oral hygiene adjustments may be significant for your overall wellbeing.
In certain circumstances, the following strategies have shown to be effective:
Avoid Food and drink with High Sugar Level
Avoid overeating sugar. According to an NCBI study, the World Health Organization states that the significant risk factor for cavities is ingesting sugar. They advise limiting your sugar consumption to less than 10% of your overall daily calorie consumption. When the sugar is eliminated, your enamel may remineralize.
Hygiene
A few of the most important things you may do to maintain appropriate dental hygiene are as follows:
- Clean your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to prevent plaque accumulation and restore any potential damage to the enamel
- Floss once a day to avoid plaque development
- Manage your fluoride intake by drinking fluoridated water and utilizing fluoride-containing items. In rare situations, you can even request fluoride therapies or medications for use at home from your dentist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can A Dentist Restore A Decaying Tooth?
Yes. Once decay has advanced beyond the initial stage, fillings, also known as restorations, are the primary therapeutic option.
Can I Reverse Tooth Decay Naturally?
No. Cavities do not heal spontaneously, even though the beginning phase of tooth decay can be prevented. Fluoride therapies can help rebuild compromised enamel and reverse cavities in their initial phases.
Conclusion
Quick detection is critical for stopping tooth decay from spreading. If you have any discomfort on certain teeth, sense a scratchy tooth surface, or see yellowing on the surface of your enamel, Bellevue Azalea Dentistry.
