Tooth decay refers to softening of tooth enamel and damage your tooth structure caused by acids. It occurs when plaque bacteria break down sugar in our mouth. If the loss of tooth structure is left untreated, a cavity occurs.
The cavity is a kind of hole in our tooth. If cavities are left untreated they will eventually start growing and may even destroy the whole teeth. Plaque bacteria can also eat away next layer of the tooth, called as dentin and causes root cavity.
As a result, nerves of your tooth become exposed and you might feel pain while eating or drinking.
Taking a good care of your tooth is very important for your personal hygiene. Regular dental checkups can detect cavities early. A tooth cavity is a sign of poor oral hygiene and health.
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Home Remedies For Tooth Decay And Cavities
Many home remedies suggested that cavities are caused due to lack of Vitamin D. Not getting enough amount of Vitamin D makes your teeth more susceptible to cavities. There are many other reasons which cause tooth cavity and are discussed above.
There are several remedies by which you can get rid of a tooth cavity. They are:
1. Fluoride Mouthwash
Fluoride is good for teeth as it remineralize them. Since lack of minerals is one of the cause. Using fluoride mouthwash is an effective method to get rid of tooth decay and cavity.
Ingredients
- Fluoride Mouthwash
How To Use?
- Gargle with Fluoride mouthwash, after brushing
- Do this daily in morning and before going to bed
2. Butter Oil And Cod Liver Oil
Both oils are rich in Vitamin A, D, and K. These Vitamins are considered excellent to maintain your oral hygiene. Apart from Oral hygiene, they have several other benefits also.
Ingredients
- Cod Liver Oil supplement
- Butter Oil supplement
How To Use?
- Take both the capsules with any meal during the day
- Take these capsules regularly to maintain your oral hygiene.
3. Salt Water
This is the most common remedy for any tooth related problem. It keeps your mouth free from bacteria and removes stickiness from cavities. Salt water also balances the acidic pH.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- A glass of warm water
How To Use?
- Make a solution by adding salt to warm water
- Gargle your mouth with it. Make sure you rinse your cavities thoroughly.
- Do this twice a
4. Mixture Of Calcium And Magnesium Powders
Calcium and Magnesium powders remineralize your teeth. These 2 powders keep your mouth alkaline, preventing the acid from cavity from affecting your teeth.
Ingredients
- Calcium Powder
- Magnesium Powder
- Toothbrush
How To Use?
- Mix both the powder properly.
- Brush your teeth with this powder.
- Repeat this once a day.
5. Clove Oil
Clove has antimicrobial constituents which help in relieving pain. It also inhibits the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Clove has an essential oil, Eugenol, which is responsible for the analgesic action.
Ingredients
- Clove oil
How To Use?
- Take a cotton swab dipped in clove oil, apply on the cavity and massage it lightly.
- Apply this 2-3 times a day.
6. Vegetable Oil
Using Vegetable oil is supposed to be effective in removing tooth bacteria and relieving pain. Through its swishing action pulls the bacteria from cavity or tooth decay and traps them in the oil. this technique also decreases swelling if present.
Ingredients
- A small cup
- Vegetable oil
How To Use?
- Take a cup of vegetable oil.
- Rinse your mouth with vegetable for about 5-10 minutes.
- After rinsing, spit it out.
- Repeat this once or twice a day.
7. Lemon
Lemon contains Vitamin C and is acidic in nature. Acetic Acid present in lemon kills the germs and eases the pain.
Ingredients
- Lemon
How To Use?
- Chew a lemon slice for few minutes.
- Rinse your mouth with fresh water.
8. Garlic
Garlic is a wonderful herb and spice found in every kitchen. Garlic has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Because of its properties, we are asked to eat a raw garlic clove. It also works as a painkiller, by relieving from pain.
Ingredients
- A garlic clove
How To Use?
- Chew the garlic clove, on an empty stomach.
- Chew it every morning.
9. Green Tea
Green tea is considered as an effective method to kill germs. Green tea also keeps your teeth healthy. It also reduces the growth and production plaque.
Ingredients
- A green tea bag
- Cu of hot water
- Lemon juice
- Honey
How To Use?
- Take a cup of hot green tea
- Add some honey and lemon juice to it.
- Drink it while it is warm.
- Drink 2-3 cups a day of it.
10. Neem
Using neem is considered to be an outdated method to keep your teeth clean. But it is a highly effective method to keep your teeth healthier.
Chewing neem releases powerful plant oils and compounds that are highly effective against the bacteria. Neem also has high fiber content which keeps plaque away.
Ingredients
- Neem Twig
How To Use?
- Chew a neem twig for few minutes.
- Rinse your mouth with fresh water.
- Repeat this every morning
11. Baking Soda
Baking soda is an antimicrobial agent. Alkalinity of baking soda neutralizes the excess acid produced by plaque
Ingredients
- Baking Soda
- Toothbrush
How To Use?
- Wet your toothbrush and dip into baking soda powder
- Brush your teeth with baking soda powder
- Repeat this every alternate day for few days
Caution: Daily use of baking soda for long period can damage your tooth enamel
12. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has an antimicrobial property which kills the bacteria present in your mouth. Using Hydrogen Peroxide for rinsing your mouth will prevent tooth decay, gingivitis, and plaque.
Ingredients
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- Water
How To Use?
- After brushing your teeth, swish your mouth with hydrogen peroxide for about 5-7 minutes.
- Repeat this once a day, best before going to bed.
Caution: Do not keep it in your mouth for a long time as it will start irritating your inside skin.
13. Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe Vera has various medical benefits. Aloe Vera contains anthraquinones which controls the tooth decay. Aloe Vera also has anti-inflammatory effects, thus reduces swelling and pain.
Ingredients
- Aloe Vera juice
How To Use?
- Gargle with Aloe Vera juice for a few minutes after brushing your teeth.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly with fresh water.
- Repeat this twice a day.
14. Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It keeps your mouth healthy, gums strong, and free from tooth decay.
Ingredients
- Tea Tree oil
- Warm Water
How To Use?
- Massage tea tree oil on your teeth and gums.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Repeat this twice a day
How To Clean Cavity At Home?
The cavity is the formation of tiny holes due to damage of tooth enamel. Having sugary food or drink will increase in growth of plaque bacteria. Plaque bacteria turns those sugar into acid which starts destroying your teeth.
If it is not treated on time then it may cause you root cavity. The cavity can cause you pain while eating and drinking as it depletes all minerals and makes your teeth sensitive.
To stop a cavity from further developing you need to keep your cavity clean.
For keeping it clean these measures can be taken:
- Avoid sugar-containing food and drinks.
- Brushing properly twice a day.
- Rinsing your mouth after having meals.
- Using Fluoride mouthwash, after brushing your teeth.
- Using vegetable oil for rinsing your mouth, it will pull all the bacteria that are sticked to the cavity.
- Rinsing your mouth with Saltwater
- Brushing your teeth Baking Soda.
- Gargle with Aloe Vera juice.
- Swishing your mouth with 3% Hydrogen peroxide.
- Chewing a neem
How To Stop Tooth Decay Pain?
Tooth Decay may destroy your tooth enamel, exposing nerves leading to toothaches. You can try several things to ease your pain for a while. But, you need to visit a doctor for treating your tooth decay and cavity.
Things you can do to stop Tooth decay pain are:
- Avoid hot and cold beverages.
- Avoid sugar-containing food
- Consider taking painkiller
- Apply Clove oil
- Brush and floss
These things will relief your pain for short time only.
How To Prevent Tooth Decay And Cavities?
To prevent Tooth Decay and Cavities you should follow these things:
- brush your teeth twice a day properly.
- Gargle after brushing your teeth. As it pulls out the bacteria from your mouth.
- Chewing your food properly as food particle will not stick to your teeth.
- Massage your teeth with Clove oil to keep your teeth healthy
- You can have onion salad while having your meal. It is good for your mouth and keeps your oral hygiene healthier.
- Chew a raw garlic clove.
- Don’t keep your mouth dry for a longer time. A keeping your mouth dry will decease the generation of saliva.
- Use a mouthwash which contains Fluoride.
- Eat Fiber-rich It decreases the generation of plaque in your mouth.
- Ensure you visit your dentist as scheduled or needed.
What Are The Causes Of Tooth Decay and Cavities?
Tooth cavities are caused by a bacteria plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance that is always forming on your teeth and gums.
Plaque is a combination of:
- bacteria
- saliva
- acid
- food particles
Plaque bacteria is present in everyone’s mouth. After eating or drinking foods which have sugar content in it. Plaque in your mouth turns sugar into acid.
Plaque starts forming on your teeth soon after eating or drinking which contains sugar. This is why doctor always recommends for brushing your teeth twice a day.
Plaque sticks to your teeth, and the acid that plaque generates can slowly destroy your tooth enamel. Tooth Enamel is one of the four major tissues that makes up the tooth.
It’s a hard, protective coating that protects your tooth against tooth decay. As your tooth enamel start decaying, the risk of cavity increases.
Things that increase the risk to have Tooth decay and cavities include:
- Adding too many sugary or acidic foods and drinks in your diet.
- Not brushing and flossing regularly.
- Not getting enough fluoride. Fluoride makes your teeth resistant to acids produced by plaque
- Keeping your mouth dry for a long time, which results in less formation of saliva.
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia
- acid reflux disease, which can result in stomach acid wearing down your tooth enamel
Children’s teeth are more prone to tooth decay and cavities. This is because the minerals in children teeth are not strong enough to fight against tooth decay. Even babies can be at risk. Babies who are feed by milk bottles can develop tooth decay.
Symptoms Of Tooth Decay And Cavities
Usually, Tooth decay doesn’t cause any symptoms until you have a cavity or an infected tooth.
When a cavity or infected tooth occurs, you may have:
- A toothache, pressure while having food or drink
- Swelling of your gums around sore tooth.
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.
- White, gray, brown, or black spots on your teeth.
If you are having a frequent toothache, visit a dentist. Sometimes the pain will go away for a while by having some painkiller. But the tooth decay will keep growing and if you left untreated, it might get worse and can result in cavities.
When To See Dentist?
Tooth decay is a very serious problem. If its left untreated then it might destroy your tooth. And then you have to live without a teeth or with a fake teeth. One should not delay tooth decay treatment. We all must visit a doctor for a regular checkup.
You should visit a dental doctor whenever
- You are having pain in your teeth or gums.
- Your teeth have become sensitive.
- Your gums start swelling.
You should not ignore whenever you feel like this. As cavity starts from a tiny hole and eventually it becomes larger. Which can destroy your tooth and exposes your nerves. This condition can also result in root cavity.
So don’t worsen your case, go and schedule a regular appointment with your dentist.
