Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Prevent an existing cavity from getting worse
• Part 2 of 3: Go to the dentist to have a cavity treated
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing cavities
• Tips
• Warnings

You get caries, or small holes in your teeth that gradually get bigger, when the protective enamel on your teeth is eaten away by acids and bacteria. When the enamel on your teeth is gone, the hole in your tooth gets bigger and bigger, which is also called "tooth decay". If you do not treat this problem, the dental pulp, or the inner part of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels are located, will be affected. The only way to get rid of a hole is to have it filled by your dentist. However, there are several steps you can take to keep your dental cavity from getting worse until you can make an appointment with your dentist.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Prevent an existing cavity from getting worse

1. Gently polish the area. Ideally, brushing your teeth will help prevent cavities completely. However, brushing is also important to prevent pre-existing cavities from getting worse. Food accumulations stimulate bacterial growth. These bacteria get into the hole, making it worse. When brushing, concentrate on the hole to remove food residue and keep the hole from getting worse.
   • Use a soft toothbrush and don't apply too much pressure when brushing. Move the toothbrush gently back and forth for at least 2 minutes.
   • Brush your teeth twice a day and after you eat. It's especially important to keep your teeth clean when you have a cavity because plaque starts to build up within 20 minutes of eating.
2. Watch for the symptoms of a cavity. Cavities develop gradually and sometimes cavities can form and get worse without many symptoms. This is one of the reasons why regular visits to the dentist are so important. There are a number of symptoms that indicate that a hole is developing or has already developed. Make an appointment with the dentist if you have the following symptoms. While you wait for your appointment, take steps to prevent the cavity from getting worse.
   • A white spot on your tooth. This could be an early sign of tooth decay or fluorosis and indicates a place where acids have eaten away the minerals in your tooth enamel. At this stage, there are still things you can do to get rid of the cavity, so take action if you see a white spot on one of your teeth.
   • Tooth sensitivity. This usually occurs after eating or drinking sweet, hot or cold foods or drinks. Sensitive teeth do not always indicate cavities, and many people already have sensitive teeth. However, if you've never had sensitive teeth and they suddenly become sensitive after eating or drinking certain foods or drinks, this could be a cause for concern.
   • Pain when you bite something.
   • Tooth or toothache. If the cavity has become so bad that the nerves in your tooth are affected, you may experience persistent pain in the tooth in question. The pain may get worse when you eat or drink something. The pain can also come on suddenly.
   • A visible hole in your tooth. This means that the hole is advanced and has significantly affected your tooth.
   • Cavities can develop and gradually enlarge without showing any symptoms.
3. Use an agent with fluoride. Fluoride is bacteriostatic, which means that fluoride prevents the bacteria in your mouth from reproducing. It also makes your teeth stronger by remineralizing your tooth enamel, which makes your teeth more resistant to cavities. If you get it early enough, a good fluoride treatment can even reverse the tooth decay. You can buy a variety of products with added fluoride at the store, but stronger ones require a prescription from your dentist. The best option is to undergo fluoride treatment at your dentist, but there are several remedies you can use while waiting for your appointment.
   • Fluoride toothpaste. Most store-bought toothpastes contain about 1,000 to 1,500 ppm of sodium fluoride. Your dentist can also prescribe a fluoride toothpaste that contains about 5000 ppm sodium fluoride.
   • Mouthwash containing fluoride. A fluoride mouthwash can be used daily. Such an agent generally contains 225 to 1000 ppm sodium fluoride. Look for a mouthwash recommended by dentists to make sure it has been researched and approved.
   • Fluoride gel. Fluoride gel is thick and stays on your teeth for a longer period of time. You squeeze the gel into containers that you slide over your teeth.
4. Drinking water. A dry mouth can make your cavity worse quickly as the bacteria that make the cavity worse can reproduce. Keep your mouth moist to prevent the cavity from getting worse, and rinse away any food debris that could cause the cavity to bother you more.
   • If your mouth remains dry despite the amounts of water you drink, this could be a symptom of a more serious medical condition. It can also be caused by a prescription drug. Talk to your doctor if you continue to experience dry mouth.
5. Chew sugarless gum with xylitol. Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol extracted from plants. It has antibacterial properties and is used to prevent infections. Chewing gum containing 1-20 grams of xylitol helps kill bacteria that cause cavities and make them worse. If you think you have a cavity, chew gum containing xylitol until you can see the dentist to keep the cavity from getting worse.
   • Look for gum approved by dentists. This way you can be sure that the chewing gum will not harm your teeth rather than good.
   • Chewing gum stimulates saliva production, which can help flush out food debris and keep tooth enamel strong.
6. Try a saline solution. Saline solution has antiseptic properties and dentists often recommend this solution to treat wounds and infections in the mouth. A saline solution can also kill the bacteria that cause cavities, slowing bacterial growth until you can go to the dentist.
   • Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
   • Swish a drink of saline solution in your mouth for 1 minute. Focus on the tooth in question.
   • Treat your tooth in this way 3 times a day.
7. Brush your teeth with licorice root. It has not been extensively researched, but there is some evidence that licorice root can prevent cavities and slow their growth. It can kill the bacteria that cause cavities and reduce inflammation. Try licorice root as a home remedy to slow down the growth of the cavity while you wait for your dentist appointment.
   • Some store-bought toothpastes contain licorice root. You can also buy some commercially available licorice root powder and mix it with your toothpaste.
   • Make sure to buy licorice root without glycyrrhizin, a substance that can cause unpleasant and often serious side effects.
   • Always seek the advice of your doctor before using licorice root. It can interact with certain medications, including ACE inhibitors, insulin, MAO inhibitors, and oral contraception. In addition, licorice root can cause health problems in people with certain medical conditions such as liver or kidney disease, diabetes, heart failure, heart disease and hormone-sensitive cancers.
8. Avoid refined sugar. Cavities are caused by bacteria that produce acid that thrive in acidic environments. These bacteria use the sugar in dental plaque as fuel. This is why you should limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks you can drink. If possible, brush your teeth after eating.
   • Foods high in starch, such as potatoes, bread and pasta, also provide an attractive environment for acid-producing bacteria. Eat simple and refined carbohydrates as little as possible, and brush your teeth after you eat.

Part 2 of 3: Go to the dentist to have a cavity treated

1. Discuss treatment options with your dentist. Your dentist may recommend different types of treatments depending on the stage of the cavity. If you have any questions about treatment, ask your dentist.
2. Get fluoride treatment at your dentist. If the hole has just appeared and is still very small, your dentist may be able to treat the hole by applying a large amount of fluoride and you don't need to undergo any major treatment. The fluoride is usually painted on the tooth and needs to be absorbed for a few minutes. It helps to restore the tooth enamel in the affected area and will remineralize the tooth if you get it early enough.
   • This treatment usually only takes a few minutes, but you will not be able to eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes after the treatment so that the fluoride can absorb properly.
3. Have the hole filled if your dentist recommends this. Most cavities are not detected early enough to be properly treated with fluoride. The hole will then have to be filled. During this treatment, your dentist will drill away the affected part of your tooth. He or she will then fill the hole with a certain type of material.
   • Typically, a dentist will use porcelain or composite resin to fill a cavity, especially when it comes to the front teeth. These are the best choices because the color of the material can be adjusted to match the natural color of your tooth.
   • The dentist can fill cavities in teeth at the back of the mouth with a silver alloy or gold, because those materials are stronger. More plaque usually also accumulates on the teeth at the back of the mouth.
4. Talk to your dentist about root canal treatment if the cavity has affected the dental pulp. Your dentist will remove the infected pulp, use an antiseptic to remove bacteria, and then fill the tooth with a filler.This treatment is often a last resort to save the tooth before it needs to be extracted.
   • In most cases, a crown (a cap over your tooth) will have to be placed if you need a root canal treatment.
5. Ask your dentist if your tooth can be extracted if the cavity has become so bad that the tooth cannot be saved. In this case, the dentist will pull the affected tooth. After that, the tooth can be replaced with a dental implant, both for cosmetic reasons and to prevent your other teeth from becoming crooked.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing cavities

1. Brush your teeth twice a day. Keep your teeth clean and healthy by brushing them twice a day. Use a soft toothbrush and replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. To make sure you brush your teeth properly, follow the instructions provided by dentists below.
   • Hold the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle against the edge of the gum. Plaque usually forms along the edge of the gums.
   • Move the toothbrush gently back and forth, making small strokes. Make strokes the width of a tooth.
   • Brush both the outside and inside of your teeth.
   • Keep brushing for two minutes.
   • Finish by brushing your tongue. If you skip your tongue, you leave behind a lot of bacteria that will contaminate your mouth immediately after brushing.
   • Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
2. Floss your teeth daily. In addition to brushing your teeth, flossing is very important to maintain healthy teeth. Try to floss at least once a day, but twice is even better. Follow the simple steps below to make sure you are flossing your teeth properly.
   • Grab a piece of floss about 18 inches long. Wrap most of it around your one middle finger and the rest around your other middle finger.
   • Grasp the piece of floss firmly between your thumb and index finger. Use a rubbing motion to get the floss between your teeth.
   • When the floss reaches the edge of the gum, hold it in the shape of the letter C so you can follow the shape of the tooth with it.
   • Hold the floss firmly against the tooth and gently slide it up and down.
   • Repeat the entire process on the rest of your teeth.
   • Always pick up a new piece of floss when needed.
   • If your teeth are quite close together, look for smooth or waxy floss. Ready-made dental floss holders can also be useful. The most important thing is to keep flossing your teeth every day.
3. Rinse your mouth with a mouthwash approved by dentists. Some mouthwashes just mask bad breath without killing the bacteria in your mouth and removing the plaque that causes bad breath and cavities. When buying mouthwash, see if it is recommended by dentists, which means it has been tested by dentists and proven to remove plaque.
   • Make sure to buy a mouthwash that will help reduce plaque, fight gingivitis and cavities, and get rid of bad breath.
   • There are many mouthwashes with little to no alcohol that are good for your oral hygiene. Look for one if you can't stand the burning sensation of a traditional mouthwash.
4. Provide a diet that ensures that your teeth remain healthy. What you eat has a major impact on your oral hygiene. Some foods are good for your teeth, while you should eat as little or nothing at all of other foods.
   • Eat high-fiber foods. Fiber helps push all plaque off your teeth and stimulates saliva production, which helps remove harmful acids and enzymes from your teeth. To get fiber, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains.
   • Eat dairy products. Milk, cheese and plain yogurt also stimulate saliva production. They also contain calcium, which strengthens your tooth enamel.
   • Drink tea. Nutrients in green and black tea help break down plaque and slow down bacterial growth. Making tea with water that contains fluoride will provide even more nutrients for your teeth.
   • Avoid sugary foods and drinks. Sugar causes more plaque to build up and more bacteria to grow, causing cavities. Eat as little candy as possible and drink as little soda as possible. If you do eat sugary foods, do so with a meal and drink plenty of water. That way, your mouth will produce more saliva, flushing out all the sugar and reducing the amount of acid and bacteria.
   • Brush your teeth after eating starchy foods. Foods like potatoes and corn get stuck between your teeth more easily, which can lead to cavities. Make sure to brush your teeth after eating these foods to avoid cavities.
5. Do not drink acidic soft drinks. Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and even fruit juices are acidic and can stimulate bacteria growth in your mouth, causing cavities. Drink them in moderation or not at all.
   • The biggest culprits are sports drinks like Gatorade, energy drinks like Red Bull and soft drinks like Coca Cola. The carbon dioxide in these drinks makes your teeth wear out faster.
   • Drink lots of water. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking an acidic drink.
   • Don't forget that even pure fruit juice contains sugar. Dilute pure fruit juice with an equal amount of water, especially if the drink is for your child. Drink little fruit juice and rinse your mouth with water after drinking fruit juice.
6. Visit the dentist regularly. Most dentists would like you to come by every 6 months for a dental check-up. Stick to this to keep your teeth healthy. During the appointment, the dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth and remove any plaque that has accumulated during the last few months. He or she will also check your teeth for the signs of cavities, gum disease, and other problems you may have with your teeth and mouth.
   • Your dentist can also help you detect early cavities that are still very small. If your dentist arrives early enough, he or she can address the cavity without undergoing major treatment.
   • Lifestyle changes, good oral hygiene, and fluoride treatments may be enough to treat very small cavities. This stimulates the remineralization process, whereby the tooth recovers naturally and the cavity disappears.

Tips

• During a dental cleaning at the dentist, your teeth are usually thoroughly cleaned to remove plaque and tartar, polished and fluoride lacquer is applied.

Warnings

• If you think you have a cavity, see the dentist. It's a good idea to keep the cavity from getting worse, but the only way to really treat the cavity is to have it filled by your dentist.
• You may not know you have cavities because symptoms are not always present. Make sure you visit your dentist regularly for dental check-ups.