Secrets Revealed: Can Tooth Decay Be Reversed?

Tooth decay is primarily due to cavities. And unfortunately, cavities are hard to prevent. But the question here is- can tooth decay be reversed? It’s possible under significant circumstances. First, you should detect the cavities early on, and second, they should be dealt with right away. Cavities develop gradually, so it’s safe to say that it’s not easy to detect them on your own. When cavities grow, the teeth start to get weak, resulting in tooth decay and, worse, tooth loss. However, tooth decay can be solved with dental bonding or other dental restorative procedures.

Can I Reverse Tooth Decay

This question is tricky in the sense that the answers are both yes and no. You see, once tooth decay hits a specific tooth, there is no way to naturally re-grow or restore the broken area of the teeth. However, there are numerous ways to restore its appearance and functions with the help of improving oral hygiene and professional dental care. In addition to this, you can also prevent it from getting worse to avoid tooth loss.

As mentioned, tooth decay is the result of neglected tooth cavities. On this note, the best thing to consider is the condition of your dental health. Ultimately, cavities can be prevented. But, they grow gradually, making it hard to determine if you are developing cavities or not.

So to make things short, the word “reversed” is not the best term to use in this particular sense. The most appropriate way to describe this is “preventing cavities and tooth decay from getting worse.” So the next time someone asked you- can tooth decay be reversed? You’ll know how to explain things further.

How Does Tooth Decay Develop?

To easily understand tooth decay, let us discuss how it happens. There are five different stages of tooth decay. And all of these processes significantly affect the health of your teeth.

1. The first stage of tooth decay is called demineralization. During this process, the teeth get in contact with acid and sugary foods that promotes bacteria build-up.
2. Second, after demineralization, enamel decay takes place. The enamel is the outer layer of the teeth, and its purpose is to protect the teeth from bacteria. Once it’s broken, it will be easier for bacteria to infiltrate the teeth.
3. Dentin decay will follow. When the tooth decay reaches the dentin layer, tooth pain and sensitivity might occur.
4. The fourth stage is pulp decay. This is typically the last and final stage of tooth decay. At this point, the cavities have reached the pulp and cause inflammation to begin.
5. In most cases, dental abscess follows. This happens when the bacteria in the pulp find a way to form a pocket of pus. This could be a harrowing situation to be in, and this might result in tooth loss.

The development of tooth decay differs from one person to another. Our different habits affect our dental health in various ways as well. Technically, those who practice proper oral hygiene will most likely not experience tooth decay.

Can Cavities Be Reversed?

Your oral hygiene plays a vital role in preventing cavities. A cavity can be treated and removed, but its effects on the teeth will not reverse naturally. However, a good oral care routine can help boost the strength of your teeth once again. Choosing the right oral products is also another thing to consider. For instance, brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste restores the lost mineral of your teeth.

To ensure that your teeth stay strong and healthy, here are some of the things to do to prevent holes:

Avoid Foods with Phytic Acid

Phytic acid removes the minerals in our body and prevents enzyme functions as well. This can be found in foods such as seeds, grains, and nuts. How does it affect our dental health? Phytic acid blocks several minerals and nutrients, such as phosphorus. Phosphorus is essential in boosting calcium, zinc, magnesium, and iron, which play a significant role in promoting healthy teeth.

Stay Away from Sugary Foods

Sugar is the number one culprit in the development and rapid progress of teeth holes. If you are trying to prevent cavities from growing, avoid processed foods that contain sugar like soda, baked goods, and candies. If you are a natural sweet tooth, you may replace artificial sugar with maple or honey.

Dental Treatments for Cavity

Let’s say that your cavities indeed progressed and lead to tooth decay, is there anything you can do to save your tooth? Fortunately, yes! There are several ways to avoid tooth loss and restore your tooth functions, such as follows:

• Fillings. These fill in the tiny holes in the teeth and are often used to treat a small cavity.
• Crowns. When a considerable part of the tooth is affected, a crown may be necessary to cover the decay.
• Root canals. This procedure is done to clean the canals of the tooth, which are often infected or damaged.
• Tooth extractions. Sadly, if tooth decay is severe and can no longer be saved, an extraction might follow. This is to ensure that the remaining teeth won’t get infected as well.

IF you would like further details, try the dental services of BDG at Glenmore Park.

References:

Can You Reverse a Cavity? (https://www.healthline.com/health/can-you-reverse-a-cavity) December 10, 2020

Can You Reverse a Cavity? 2 Things You May Have Never Considered. (https://mypenndentist.org/dental-tips/2021/06/07/protect-your-teeth-reverse-tooth-decay/) June 7, 2021