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Want To Get Rid Of Cavities? 16 Home Remedies To Try
Tooth decay and cavities are among the world's most common oral health problems and half the world's population suffer from it. Most often these tooth problems are seen in children, teenagers and older adults.
What Causes Cavities?
Dental cavities are damaged areas that eventually become holes inside the teeth caused by the bacteria Streptococcus mutans.[1] It survives on the surface of the teeth creating acid out of sugar from foods. A build-up of foods and bacteria form plaque which causes destruction to the tooth enamel, leading to tooth erosion. This erosion causes holes in between the teeth, around teeth fillings which are chipped and close to the gums.[2]
Cavities also occur due to the lack of dental hygiene, foods that stick to your teeth, frequent snacking, dry mouth, etc.[3]
Symptoms Of Cavities
The most common symptoms of tooth decay and cavities are toothache, tooth sensitivity, mild to sharp pain when eating or drinking, etc.
Complications Of Cavities
•
Tooth
abscess
•
Constant
tooth
pain
•
Difficulty
in
chewing
solid
food
•
Risk
of
breaking
or
chipping
a
tooth
•
Formation
of
pus
around
the
infected
tooth
Diagnosis Of Cavities
The dentist will first examine your mouth and teeth, ask about the ongoing tooth pain and sensitivity, and conduct an X-ray that will show the extent of cavities and tooth decay.
Treatment Of Cavities
• Tooth fillings are the primary treatment option when tooth decay has progressed. Fillings are done of various materials like porcelain, silver, gold or tooth-coloured composite resins.
• Fluoride treatments restore the tooth's enamel and prevent the progression of cavities. Fluoride treatments can be in liquid, foam, gel or varnish form that's brushed onto the teeth.
• Root canals are done when the erosion reaches the inner part of the tooth. This treatment option is for repairing a badly damaged infected tooth.
• Crown is a custom-fitted covering that replaces the tooth's entire natural crown. Crowns are made of resin, porcelain, gold or other materials.
• Tooth extraction is the removal of the decayed tooth. It is done in case a tooth which has been severely damaged or decayed that can't be restored.
Home Remedies to get rid of Cavities
1. Clove
Clove is used for treating any kind of dental issue, including cavities. It contains a chemical called eugenol which has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial properties, that can help alleviate pain and prevent the cavity from spreading.[4]
• Gently chew a clove to extract its oil. Then keep the clove under your tongue for several minutes.
2. Salt
Salt is excellent when it comes to treating cavities due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It can reduce inflammation, ease the pain, and prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth.[5]
•
Mix
1
teaspoon
of
salt
in
a
glass
of
warm
water.
•
Swish
this
solution
in
your
mouth
for
1
minute.
•
Do
this
3
times
a
day
until
your
symptoms
subside.
3. Garlic
Garlic contains a natural compound called allicin which has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antibiotic properties. It is responsible for treating tooth decay and cavities.[6] In addition, the antifungal and antibacterial properties of garlic helps to remove microbes and deal with pain.
•
Crush
3
to
4
garlic
cloves
and
¼
teaspoon
of
rock
salt.
•
Apply
it
on
the
infected
tooth.
•
Leave
it
on
for
10
minutes
and
rinse.
•
Do
this
twice
daily.
4. Licorice
Licorice root may help keep your teeth healthy and can prevent the growth of cavity-causing bacteria.[7] The licorice root contains natural plant chemicals and a compound called trans-chalone which blocks the action of a key enzyme Sortase A. This enzyme allows the bacteria to thrive in oral cavities.
• Use dried licorice root powder to brush your teeth daily.
5. Turmeric
Turmeric contains a natural chemical called curcumin which exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties and antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial activity of curcumin inhibits the activity of the enzyme Sortase A which help the bacteria Streptococcus mutans to thrive.[8]
•
Apply
some
turmeric
powder
on
the
affected
teeth.
•
Leave
it
on
for
a
few
minutes.
6. Neem
Neem is another effective home remedy for treating dental caries. The antimicrobial properties of neem twigs are effective against microorganisms like Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, and Streptococcus salivarius.[9]
•
Chew
the
neem
twigs
for
a
few
minutes
and
rinse.
•
Do
this
twice
daily.
7. Triphala
Triphala is a herbal concoction consisting of amla, bibhitaki and haritaki. Since ancient times, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for treating a wide range of health problems ranging from dental caries to stomach ailments.[10]
• Mix 2 teaspoons of triphala powder with 1 teaspoon of honey to form a paste. Apply it on the cavities for a few minutes and wash off.
8. Nutmeg
The antibacterial properties present in nutmeg extract help prevent cavities and tooth decay caused by cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans. Nutmeg is also effective against other oral microorganisms like Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sobrinus, etc.[11]
•
Apply
nutmeg
oil
directly
on
your
teeth
using
cotton
swabs.
•
Keep
it
on
for
a
few
minutes
and
rinse
your
mouth.
9. Wheatgrass
The antibacterial properties of wheatgrass help fight tooth decay and cavities. Wheatgrass eliminates the toxins and bacteria from the gums and control bacterial growth.[12]
•
Drink
½
glass
of
wheatgrass
juice
daily
on
an
empty
stomach.
•
Or,
you
can
chew
½
cup
of
wheatgrass.
10. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil can keep your teeth and gums healthy due to its strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antimicrobial properties.[13]
• Massage your teeth and gums with a few drops of tea tree oil. Rinse with warm water.
11. Aloe vera
The antibacterial effect of aloe vera help kill the bacteria in the mouth according to a study.[13] The aloe vera plant contains depurative properties which are useful in preventing cavities and tartar. Also, the anthraquinones present in aloe vera pulp combat the bacteria present in the teeth.
•
Gargle
your
mouth
with
¼
cup
of
aloe
vera
juice
and
swish
it
around
your
mouth
for
a
few
minutes.
•
Do
this
twice
daily.
12. Tea
Tea contains nearly 4000 bioactive compounds of which one third is contributed to polyphenols.[14] It possesses significant anticariogenic properties and catechins, especially green tea. Extracts of green tea inhibit the growth of bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius and Escherichia coli.[15]
• Brew a cup of green tea, add honey and drink it twice a day.
13. Sugar-free gum
Sugar-free gum contains xylitol which is known to reduce Streptococcus mutans bacteria, raise plaque pH and stimulate saliva flow.[16] Also, another type of sugar-free gum contains a compound called casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) which is effective in reducing the bacterial growth.[17]
14. Coffee
According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, coffee might help prevent cavities.[18] Coffee made from roasted coffee beans has antibacterial effects against microorganisms including Streptococcus mutans.[19]
• Drink black coffee with honey without adding milk.
15. Eggshells
Eggshells treat cavities and remineralize your teeth with essential minerals. Eggshells contain calcium carbonate which replaces the mineral in the tooth enamel and makes it strong.
•
Clean
the
eggshells
with
water
and
boil
them
for
5
minutes.
•
Dry
the
shells
and
grind
them
into
a
powder.
•
Take
some
of
it,
mix
it
with
coconut
oil
and
use
it
as
a
toothpaste.
16. Oil pulling
Oil pulling involves swishing a tablespoon of sesame oil, coconut oil or mustard oil around the mouth for a few minutes and spitting it out. This method is known to promote oral health. A study shows that sesame oil used in oil pulling reduce the amount of plaque and bacteria formation in the teeth.[20] And another study showed the effectiveness of coconut oil pulling against Streptococcus mutans.[21]
Tips To Prevent Cavities
•
Brush
twice
a
day
regularly
with
a
fluoride
toothpaste.
•
Floss
once
a
day.
•
Consume
fibre-rich
fruits
and
vegetables
and
calcium-rich
foods.
•
Limit
snacking
between
meals.
•
Rinse
your
mouth
after
finishing
your
meal.
•
Cut
down
on
sugary
and
acidic
foods
like
candies,
sweets,
refined
carbohydrates,
soda
and
juice.
- [1] Loesche, W. J. (1986). Role of Streptococcus mutans in human dental decay.Microbiological reviews,50(4), 353.
- [2] Shaw, J. H. (1987). Causes and control of dental caries.New England Journal of Medicine,317(16), 996-1004.
- [3] Selwitz, R. H., Ismail, A. I., & Pitts, N. B. (2007). Dental caries.The Lancet,369(9555), 51-59.
- [4] Jesudasan, J. S., Wahab, P. A., & Sekhar, M. M. (2015). Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and a eugenol-based paste on postoperative alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted: a randomised controlled clinical trial.British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,53(9), 826-830.
- [5] Marthaler, T. M. (2013). Salt fluoridation and oral health.Acta medica academica,42(2), 140.
- [6] Ajay Rao, H. T., Bhat, S. S., Hegde, S., & Jhamb, V. (2014). Efficacy of garlic extract and chlorhexidine mouthwash in reduction of oral salivary microorganisms, an in vitro study.Ancient science of life,34(2), 85-8.
- [7] American Chemical Society. (2012, January 5). Dried licorice root fights the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, study finds.ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 19, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104115106.htm
- [8] Hu, P., Huang, P., & Chen, M. W. (2013).Curcumin reduces Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation by inhibiting sortase A activity. Archives of Oral Biology, 58(10), 1343–1348.
- [9] Prashant, G. M., Chandu, G. N., Murulikrishna, K. S., & Shafiulla, M. D. (2007). The effect of mango and neem extract on four organisms causing dental caries: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivavius, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus sanguis: An in vitro study.Indian journal of dental research,18(4), 148.
- [10] Tandon, S., Gupta, K., Rao, S., & Malagi, K. J. (2010). Effect of Triphala mouthwash on the caries status.International journal of Ayurveda research,1(2), 93-9.
- [11] Chung, J. Y., Choo, J. H., Lee, M. H., & Hwang, J. K. (2006). Anticariogenic activity of macelignan isolated from Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) against Streptococcus mutans.Phytomedicine,13(4), 261-266.
- [12] Bakhru, H. K. (1996). The Complete Handbook of Nature Cure. Jaico publishing house.
- [13] Patri, G., & Sahu, A. (2017). Role of Herbal Agents - Tea Tree Oil andAloe veraas Cavity Disinfectant Adjuncts in Minimally Invasive Dentistry-An In vivo Comparative Study.Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR,11(7), DC05-DC09.
- [14] Goenka, P., Sarawgi, A., Karun, V., Nigam, A. G., Dutta, S., & Marwah, N. (2013). Camellia sinensis (Tea): Implications and role in preventing dental decay.Pharmacognosy reviews,7(14), 152-6.
- [15] Xu, X., Zhou, X. D., & Wu, C. D. (2010). The tea catechin epigallocatechin gallate suppresses cariogenic virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans.Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy,55(3), 1229-36.
- [16] Nayak, P. A., Nayak, U. A., & Khandelwal, V. (2014). The effect of xylitol on dental caries and oral flora.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dentistry,6, 89-94.
- [17] Emamieh, S., Khaterizadeh, Y., Goudarzi, H., Ghasemi, A., Baghban, A. A., & Torabzadeh, H. (2015). The effect of two types chewing gum containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate and xylitol on salivary Streptococcus mutans.Journal of conservative dentistry: JCD,18(3), 192.
- [18] Kashket, S., Paolino, V. J., Lewis, D. A., & Van Houte, J. (1985). In-vitro inhibition of glucosyltransferase from the dental plaque bacterium Streptococcus mutans by common beverages and food extracts.Archives of oral biology,30(11-12), 821-826.
- [19] Anila Namboodiripad, P., & Kori, S. (2009). Can coffee prevent caries?.Journal of conservative dentistry : JCD,12(1), 17-21.
- [20] Shanbhag V. K. (2016). Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene - A review.Journal of traditional and complementary medicine,7(1), 106-109.
- [21] Kaushik, M., Reddy, P., Sharma, R., Udameshi, P., Mehra, N., & Marwaha, A. (2016). The effect of coconut oil pulling on Streptococcus mutans count in saliva in comparison with chlorhexidine mouthwash.J Contemp Dent Pract,17(1), 38-41.
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