How to Turn Out a Cavity (and in the First Place to Prevent Its Formation)
As a child, the first thing we learn about oral health is that if we eat too much candy and / or don’t brush our teeth, holes called “cavities” appear in our teeth, which then need to be filled. in, and the drill is part of this process. Oral hygiene, while not completely disabled, has a few more subtle nuances, including the fact that in some cases, tooth decay can indeed be cured. Here’s what you need to know about it and a few reminders on how to avoid holes in your teeth in the first place.
How to cure tooth decay
Assuming you have a basic knowledge of tooth decay and teeth, let’s get down to business. (If not, here is some background information from the American Dental Association (ADA) .) Cavities come in a variety of sizes and degrees of severity. They develop during five stages of tooth decay: the first stage is the effect on the tooth of acids caused by bacteria caused by the consumption of sugar and starch, and the last stage is a full-fledged abscess with pain, pus and everything else.
To flip the cavity, you will need to catch it in the first stage, looking for white spots on the teeth . According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), this discoloration can appear on a tooth where mineral loss has occurred, an early sign of tooth decay. Think of this as a warning sign of cavities that can form if additional minerals are lost from the tooth and the enamel weaken over time.
The main thing here is to do everything possible to restore the enamel yourself. This mainly happens using minerals from your own saliva . The catch is that for your saliva to be useful here, it doesn’t have to remain in your mouth after you’ve eaten (especially sugary and starchy foods). Therefore, if you notice one of these white spots, be extra careful with what you eat and when, and make extra effort to brush your teeth after meals and snacks.
How to prevent tooth decay
None of this should be new, but just in case you need to be reminded, here’s what the ADA recommends you do to prevent cavities:
- Drink fluoride water
- Brush your fluoride toothpaste 2 times a day.
- Stay away from sugary foods and drinks like candy and soda. Don’t drink or eat them all day. If you are going to eat or drink sweets, do so with your meals.
- Limit sugary snacks between meals
- Brush between your teeth daily
- Visit your dentist regularly
This is especially important now, during a pandemic, when you probably want to spend as little time in the dentist’s chair as possible .