How Does Tooth Decay Form?

To begin with, bacteria live all over our teeth. As a matter of fact, these bacteria live off sugar and food from our meals. That wouldn’t be a problem except that they literally “poop” acid on our teeth after they eat. Without doubt, that acid is powerful stuff. Indeed, it dissolves tooth enamel! Enamel is the hard outside of the tooth. To give you an idea of how strong the acid is, enamel is the strongest, hardest substance in the body. It’s like a Superman substance. Unfortunately, this bacterial acid is enamel’s Kryptonite. If that doesn’t scare you into brushing more frequently, nothing will. Cavities form as the bacteria eat our food and the acid they make dissolves our teeth. Then the bacteria spread into the inside of the tooth. Once inside, they infect the nerve and cause the terrible pain we call a toothache. The pictures below show a cavity that had reached the nerve even though it still looked tiny on the surface. Read more about cavities.

How to Get Rid of Cavities?

Firstly, to get rid of cavities you must remove the infected part of the tooth. That’s the dark, weak part of the tooth that dentists call “decay.” Secondly, you must rebuild the tooth. That requires a filling or a crown, depending on how large the infection was in the tooth. Finally, if the infection goes into the nerve, a root canal will be necessary to completely remove the infection. Once the infection is gone and the tooth is rebuilt, it’s important to change your diet to prevent future cavities.

How to Fix a Cavity at Home?

To fix a cavity, you must first remove the infection and then rebuild the tooth. Of course, if any infection is left behind, the cavity infection simply grows back. In the same way, if the tooth isn’t rebuilt, it will get re-infected and may also break or fracture. Unfortunately, both removing infection and repairing it require specialized equipment and incredible accuracy. Unless you are a dentist with a fully equipped office at home, you cannot fix a cavity at home.

That being said, sometimes tiny cavities can be “reversed” with fluoride. In the earliest cavity stages, only in the outermost part of the enamel gets affected by the infection. In those cases, if you stop feeding the bacteria sugar and start applying prescription fluoride to the tooth, it sometimes stops the cavity. The fluoride treatment can also repair the surface damage to the tooth without a filling. This is the closest thing to fixing a cavity at home and it is also the least expensive way to fix a cavity. The key is catching the cavities when they are still just surface infections. Early detection only happens when you see a dentist regularly for check-ups. You must have a dentist who KNOWS your teeth!

Tooth Decay: A Modern Disease.

Of course, the bacteria that cause cavities aren’t new. However, the sugar to feed them is new, historically speaking. When we look at teeth in ancient skulls, we see gum disease but NO cavities! Amazingly, rotten teeth are a modern disease. Obviously, we all love a little sweetness, but no one loves ugly dark spots on their teeth or toothaches!

Rotten Teeth are totally Preventable

Have you ever seen signs that say “Don’t feed the anmimal?” Suprisingly, the “Don’t feed the animals” method works to prevent rotten teeth too. In fact, preventing cavities is as simple as not feeding the sugar-loving bacteria.

Follow these simple suggestions to drastically reduce your risk!

– Eat less sugar & simple carbs: Limit foods like white bread, cereals, soda pop, juices, potato chips and sweets.

– Clean Your Teeth After Eating: Brush after every meal and especially after sweet snacks.

– No brush??? Swishing with water helps remove sugar until you can get to a toothbrush.

– Scarfing Allowed: Drink or eat sweets all at once instead of savoring them over a period of time.

– Don’t Drink in Bed: Don’t put babies to bed with bottles of milk. Milk contains a type of sugar as well!

– Remember the Goal: Starve the bad bacteria! Don’t let sugar sit on your teeth.