Can Cavities Be Cured at Home?

The internet is a wondrous place full of miraculous cures for all sorts of ailments – or so every web-based snake oil salesman with a dream would like you to believe. From miracle diets that claim you can lose 20 pounds in a week to cure-alls for everything from acne to diabetes, if these things worked, life would be great. Unfortunately, most of these so-called cures are just a bunch of broken promises. But one particular cure has a lot of people talking. Some people claim you can naturally heal cavities in just two days. But here’s the problem: You can’t heal cavities at home in two days or in any other number of days – there is no way to heal a cavity. That’s because once a cavity becomes a cavity, it’s too late to reverse it. Unfortunately, tooth enamel does not repair itself, which is why when we get cavities, we need fillings. Thankfully, fillings are a relatively straightforward procedure. To fill a tooth, your dentist will clean out the decayed portion and then replace it with a composite made of either metal amalgam or resin. That’s the only way you can actually “heal” a cavity. Sure, there are ways to stop a cavity from starting – that part is simple. Make sure you brush twice a day for two minutes each time, and floss between the teeth at least once a day. George says there are even ways to prevent a pre-cavity from turning into a full cavity. Pre-cavities are not quite cavities yet but could become cavities if not properly cared for. They are spots where the enamel of the teeth has worn away or become demineralized. Because they are not yet cavities, pre-cavities can be treated and stopped before they become full-fledged cavities. Pre-cavities can be treated with fluoride and sealants, but they also respond well to proper oral health care and avoiding foods that are high in sugar or carbohydrates, which the bacteria in your mouth often turn into sugar. The big takeaway in all of this is this: If you have a cavity, get it treated as soon as possible, before it turns into something bigger than it needs to be. Remember, cavities have a way of starting out small and turning into much bigger problems. If left untreated, they can not only get bigger, but can also turn into things like abscesses that require root canals or even extractions. If you suspect you have a cavity, skip the internet and call Dr. George at 724-220-2347.