How to cure cavities, prevent them and maintain healthier oral hygiene

  • 2018
Table of contents hide 1 How to cure tooth decay: Risk factors 2 How to prevent tooth decay 3 How to cure tooth decay at home 4 The importance of tooth care

"A smile is the secret key that opens many hearts."

Robert Baden-Powell

Cavities are small holes in the hard surface of the teeth. They are caused by a bacteria that lodges on the surface and creates lactic acid from sugar. The bacteria most commonly related to caries is known as Streptococcus mutans . This bacterium, together with another very similar one called Streptococcus sobrinus, inhabit our mouth and are responsible for the deterioration of our teeth . This acid together with the plates is what causes our teeth to be affected in this way.

These bacteria find a friendly environment in those people who have a high consumption of sugar and fermentable carbohydrates such as fruits, pastries, legumes and dairy. And as a result, our teeth lose minerals and begin to deteriorate from erosion.

Throughout history, attempts have been made to find vaccines for this organism, but none of these attempts have produced a result that is encouraging for humans . Either way, we will share some tips on how to cure tooth decay at home . Do not forget that it is always advisable to attend a professional dentist regularly, as they are trained to catch these conditions on time and prevent them from spreading easily.

How to cure cavities: Risk factors

What is known about how to cure tooth decay at home is based on a study that was carried out in the 1930s. It suggested that tooth decay is caused by a lack of vitamin D in the diet . In this study, however, it was also shown that the best results were also given by suppressing grain intake . Although its consumption does not directly cause tooth decay, the remains that remained between the teeth favor the development of this condition.

The lack of vitamin D is then one of the conditions that enable tooth decay, but there are also other factors that are important to control .

These also include:

  • Having a too dry mouth, or some condition that causes a shortage of saliva in the mouth.
  • Eat any type of food that can adhere to teeth, such as candy.
  • Regularly consume foods and beverages that have large amounts of sugar, such as sodas, cereals or ice cream.
  • Inadequate oral hygiene.
  • Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
  • Regular presence of acidity due to diet.
  • Feed the babies before making him sleep.

Keep in mind that once decay has entered your teeth, it will be very difficult to eradicate it without professional help .

The best, of course, is to take care of oral health to avoid the appearance of tooth decay in our mouth. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry .

How to prevent cavities

Before we see how to cure cavities at home, let's see how we can avoid them . In our battle against tooth decay, there are some tips that we can find useful.

For example, sugar-free gum after meals has proven to help teeth remineralize. These chewing gums contain xylitol, which stimulates the flow and secretion of saliva, increases the pH of the plaque and reduces our enemy bacteria.

We have already established the importance of vitamin D in the diet, because it helps absorb the calcium and phosphate that our food has . Studies have also shown the relationship between eating foods with high levels of vitamin D and calcium, such as yogurt, and the absence of tooth decay in children. Vitamin D can be obtained from exposure to sunlight .

Another activity that can help us prevent tooth decay is to brush our teeth with fluoride-rich toothpaste . This has a very important role in preventing the action of these bacteria. Many studies have been conducted in children and adolescents, and the results have supported the use of this type of toothpaste.

It is also important to reduce, if not suppress, the consumption of sugar in the diet . Although it is clear that this is the remedy that nobody wants to hear . The World Health Organization (WHO) has made it clear that sugar is the most important risk factor in caries development . Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the intake of sugar to less than 10% of the total calories ingested during the day .

If you consume sugar constantly, you will not give your teeth time to recover their minerals.

How to cure tooth decay at home

However, in cases where the problem is already installed in one of our teeth, we must know how to cure cavities . Well, there are some home remedies can give us a hand while we wait for professional attention.

Clove is one of the most important ingredients for treating any type of oral problem, including tooth decay. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial properties. That is why it can relieve pain while preventing tooth decay from spreading . You can use clove oil in cotton on the affected tooth or directly chew it and keep it under the tongue for a few minutes.

In any case, it is not advisable to use clove constantly, but rather as a temporary solution.

When we are venturing into how to cure cavities, another alternative is common table salt with its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It reduces inflammation, attenuates pain, frees us from any infection and prevents the growth of bacteria in the mouth.

You can dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth with this solution for a minute, concentrating it on the affected area . It is recommended to perform this procedure three times a day until the symptoms decrease. You can decide to add lemon juice to salt instead of water.

There is also a process that involves using a tablespoon of sesame, sunflower or coconut oil to rinse your mouth for twenty minutes before spitting it out. Do not gargle or swallow this oil. Then rinse with warm water, to which salt can be added to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. Once this is done, you proceed to brush your teeth normally. This way you can reduce tooth decay, as well as inflamed gums and bad breath.

Finally, another ally when we are seeing how to cure cavities, is garlic . Being rich in antibacterial and antibiotic properties, garlic is often recommended for dental deterioration. It can also provide you with a break from pain, as well as helping to develop healthier gums and teeth . Remember to brush your teeth later, or everyone will avoid greeting you on the street .

The importance of tooth care

It is important that you understand that teeth are essential for well-being as long as they play an active role in the feeding process.

Without any chance of error, your teeth will sooner or later begin to deteriorate as a natural process that leads to aging. However, the better the attention you give them and the oral hygiene you maintain, the greater the time you can enjoy them throughout your life.

In addition, you have no greater tool to brighten the lives of the people around you than the smile . It is spread and releases endorphins, serotonin and other pain relievers. It also reduces the emission of hormones related to stress and blood pressure.

Do not deprive the world of the privilege of your smile.

AUTHOR: Lucas, editor of the great family of hermandadblanca.org

SOURCES:

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus_mutans
  • https://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-tooth-decay-cavities.html
  • https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/how-to-get-rid-of-cavities

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