You may be wondering, how can you get rid of cavities? Your dentist might tell you they are watching a certain tooth because the area they poked around on is showing softness of the enamel. When a cavity is just starting to form, you may be able to reverse it or slow it down. But if the cavity has grown and has been there for a while, the short answer is you really can’t make it go away. Pain from a cavity can fade, which can make us believe the cavity itself has gone away on its own but in reality, this is because the tooth decay has caused nerve damage.
What is a Cavity?
We’re all familiar that a cavity is a hole in a tooth, but did you know that this cavity is a result of the tooth decay process that happens over time? As mentioned before, you can actually interrupt and reverse this process to prevent a full-blown cavity early on.
The Tooth Decay Process
When a tooth is frequently exposed to acids found in sugary drinks or starchy foods for example, the imbalance of bacteria in your mouth may cause the enamel to lose minerals. Weakened enamel might be visible in the form of a while spot on your tooth. At this point you can stop tooth decay and prevent a cavity by repairing the enamel with a consistent and improved oral care routine. If the tooth decay process continues though, the enamel will continue to weaken, break down, and form a cavity. Once you have a cavity, it’s permanent and it has to be filled by a dentist.
Cavity Tooth Pain Explained
Many people have cavities and don’t know it. That’s because cavities don’t typically hurt until they get deep enough to affect the nerve below the enamel of the tooth. The first sign of pain might be sensitivity to cold or hot foods. It can also feel like occasional toothaches that go away with pain medication, or even discoloration of the tooth.
When a cavity gets very large the pain can intensify to throbbing, pounding, or burning. You may experience swelling in the gums or face and might even develop a fever.
Sometimes the pain stops all together and you might be tempted to think the cavity has gone away on its own. This is actually a warning sign however and indicates that the nerve below the tooth has most likely been infected and died.
How to get rid of cavities at home? Prevent them before they develop.
The best way to avoid cavities from developing is brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and visiting a dental professional for a check-up and teeth cleaning. Also, remember that whenever you’re experiencing tooth pain to get a professional opinion because it can stop tooth decay before it develops into a full cavity that would require a filling.