Dental cavities, or caries, are tiny holes in the hard surface of the teeth. They are caused by bacteria on the surface of teeth creating acid out of sugar. The most common culprit is a bacterium known as Streptococcus mutans.
The bacteria form a sticky film known as plaque. The acids in plaque remove minerals from (demineralize) your enamel coating of the teeth made mostly of calcium and phosphate. This erosion causes tiny holes in the enamel. Once the acid damage spreads into the dentin layer underneath the enamel, a cavity forms.
Getting Rid Of Cavities At Home
The cavity is a carved space inside something solid like a wall or a tooth. If you have a cavity, you have a hole in your tooth and it’s time to go to the dentist.
Many home treatments are based on a study from the 1930s that suggested that cavities are caused by a lack of vitamin D in the diet. In this study, kids who added vitamin D to their diets showed a reduction in cavities. However, those who added vitamin D while also removing grain products from their diets had the best results. This is possible because grains can stick to the teeth.
Not getting enough vitamin D may make teeth more susceptible to cavities, but we now understand that this is only a part of the puzzle. Other risk factors for cavities include:
- dry mouth or having a medical condition that reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth
- eating foods that cling to teeth, like candy and sticky foods
- frequent snacking on sugary foods or drinks, like soda, cereals, and ice cream
- heartburn (due to acid)
- inadequate cleaning of teeth
- bedtime infant feeding
Once a cavity has penetrated the dentin, you won’t be able to get rid of it at home. The following home remedies might help prevent cavities or treat “pre-cavities” by demineralizing weakened areas of your enamel before a cavity develops:
- Sugar-free gum
Chewing sugar-free gum after meals have been shown in clinical trials to help remineralize enamel. Gum containing xylitol has been researched extensively for its ability to stimulate saliva flow, raise the pH of plaque, and reduce S. mutans, but long-term studies are needed.
Sugar-free gum containing a compound called casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) has been shown to reduce S. mutans even more than xylitol-containing chewing gum. You can find this type of gum in stores.
- Vitamin D
Vitamin D is important to help absorb calcium and phosphate from the food you eat. Studies show an inverse relationship between eating foods high in vitamin D and calcium, like yoghurt, and cavities in young children. You can get vitamin D from dairy products, like milk and yoghurt. You can also get vitamin D from the sun.
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride plays an important role in preventing cavities and demineralizing enamel. Extensive research has been done to show that regularly brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste prevents cavities.
Most studies have been conducted either in children or adolescents, so more research is needed in adults and the elderly.
- Cut out sugary foods
This is the cavity remedy that no one likes to hear stop eating so much sugar. The World Health Organization says that eating sugar is the most important risk factor for cavities. They recommend reducing your sugar intake to less than 10 per cent of your total caloric intake for the day.
If you’re going to eat sugar, try not to snack on sugary foods throughout the day. Once the sugar is gone, your enamel has a chance to demineralize. But if you are constantly eating sugar, your teeth don’t get the chance to demineralize.
