Here's How To Treat Cavities You Need To Know

Tooth decay is a common dental problem. To overcome this, there are several ways to treat cavities that can be done according to the severity of the condition. This treatment needs to be done to prevent complications, such as tooth abscess or tooth fracture.

Tooth decay can happen to anyone. However, some conditions can increase the risk of cavities, such as eating too many sugary foods and drinks, experiencing dry mouth, poor dental hygiene, suffering from acid reflux disease, or having a family history of cavities.

The condition of cavities is usually accompanied by several symptoms, ranging from bad breath, toothache, to sensitive teeth. If not treated properly, cavities can lead to infection or even tooth loss. Therefore, how to treat cavities, both naturally at home and medically, is important.

How to Treat Cavities at Home

If the cavities are still in their early stages and are not severe, the treatment can be done at home. Home remedies are carried out to replace the eroded minerals in tooth enamel (remineralization of tooth enamel), so that cavities in the teeth do not get deeper and worse.

Here are some ways to treat cavities at home:

Use toothpaste that contains fluoride

Research shows that brushing your teeth regularly, at least twice a day, with toothpaste containing fluoride is beneficial in preventing cavities. This is because fluoride plays an important role in remineralizing tooth enamel, so it can treat cavities that you experience.

Reduce sugary foods and drinks

When you eat sugary foods and drinks, the bacteria in your mouth will convert the sugar contained in these foods into acids. This acid will then damage the tooth enamel.

Reducing foods and drinks that contain sugar is one way to treat cavities. This is done to give tooth enamel an opportunity to reshape tooth mineral and prevent cavities from getting worse

Using natural ingredients

Another way to treat cavities is to use natural ingredients, such as liquorice extract (licorice), sesame oil, head oil, and clove oil. These natural ingredients are known to fight bacteria that cause cavities to reduce plaque on teeth

For the use of clove oil, you simply rub it on the cavities using a cotton swab, then let it sit for about 20 minutes. You can also do oil pulling using sesame oil or coconut oil to treat cavities.

In addition, several other ways to treat cavities that can encourage tooth enamel remineralization are eating foods that contain vitamin D, chewing sugar-free gum after eating, and avoiding consumption of foods and drinks that are too hot or too cold.

How to Medically Treat Cavities

As previously explained, the treatment of cavities at home only aims to encourage the remineralization of tooth enamel. Therefore, further treatment of cavities must be carried out directly by a dentist, especially if the condition of the cavities is already severe.

To diagnose cavities, the doctor will examine the condition of your teeth and ask about your complaints. In certain cases, dental X-rays may be needed to determine the severity of cavities.

After the teeth are examined, the doctor will treat them according to the severity of the cavities. Here are some ways to treat cavities by doctors:

1. Administration of fluoride

In addition to remineralizing tooth enamel, fluoride also aims to strengthen teeth to be resistant to acids that can cause cavities.

Fluoride given by doctors is generally available in the form of mouthwash, gel, foam, or varnish which is applied to the teeth. These preparations contain higher levels of fluoride than regular toothpaste or mouthwash.

2. Dental fillings (filling)

Dental fillings are treatments for cavities of moderate severity. How to treat cavities medically is done by removing the damaged part of the tooth using a drill. Then, the tooth is filled with a special material.

This special material for filling teeth can be silver, gold, composite resin, or glass ionomer.

3. Installation of crown teeth

If the cavities are getting worse and causing the teeth to become brittle, the doctor will install crown teeth or special coverings to replace the natural crowns of the teeth.

Before the crown tooth is placed, the doctor will remove the part of the tooth that is damaged or decayed. Crown teeth can be made of gold, porcelain, resin, or a mixture of porcelain and metal.

4. Root canal treatment

If tooth decay reaches the pulp or the inside of the tooth, the way to treat cavities that can be done is by root canal treatment. This treatment aims to relieve the pain that appears without having to remove the damaged tooth.

When a root canal is performed, the doctor will remove the nerves, blood vessels, and tissue in the pulp, as well as the decayed tooth. After that, the doctor will fill the inside of the tooth with fillings or put crown teeth.

5. Extracting teeth

If the cavities are very severe and cannot be filled, the doctor will perform a tooth extraction procedure. After the tooth is extracted, it is necessary to replace the tooth immediately by placing a dental bridge or dental implant, so as not to change the structure of the other teeth.

How to treat cavities, both at home and medically, should be done as soon as possible after you notice the signs of cavities. Although difficult to detect early, cavities can be characterized by the presence of white spots on the teeth which indicate that the tooth enamel has eroded.

To prevent cavities, you can take the following steps:

• Brush your teeth at least 2 times a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride
• Cleaning between teeth using dental floss every day
• Limiting sweet or sour foods and drinks
• Installing dental sealant on the back of the teeth to protect the teeth from bacteria that cause cavities
• Conducting regular check-ups with the dentist every 6 months

If you have cavities, you should consult a doctor to get the right treatment. How to treat cavities carried out by a doctor will be adjusted to the severity of the cavities you experience.

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