Buzz
Tooth decay is the condition where small cavities or holes form in teeth, typically caused by the buildup of plaque and bacteria on the tooth surface due to poor oral hygiene, or in some dental professionals' view, a lack of essential minerals in the diet. In most cases, tooth decay is irreversible and must be treated with fluoride, fillings, or extractions. However, recent evidence suggests that this condition can be managed at home through dietary adjustments and remineralization of the teeth. The following article outlines these two options and provides guidance on how to prevent tooth decay from the start.
Steps
Find a Way to Treat Tooth Decay
Identify the signs and symptoms of tooth decay.
See a dentist for an examination. It’s best to visit the dentist twice a year for routine dental checkups. However, if you suspect tooth decay, don’t wait for your next appointment—schedule a visit immediately. During the examination, make sure to:
- Clearly explain the signs and symptoms of tooth decay you've noticed so the dentist can locate the affected areas.
- Allow the dentist to examine you. After listening to your concerns, the dentist will use a metal tool to check for soft spots on the surface of your teeth, which are signs of decay.
Treatment with fluoride. Fluoride is used in the early stages of tooth decay to help restore the teeth to their original condition.
- This treatment involves applying fluoride gel, liquid, or foam to the teeth, which helps to reinforce the enamel and make it stronger.
- During fluoride treatment, the dentist either applies fluoride directly to your teeth or places it in a tray that you wear over your teeth. The procedure typically lasts about 3 minutes.
Tooth Filling. A tooth filling is a restorative method used when a cavity has progressed beyond the enamel layer and is permanent.
- The dentist removes the decayed part of the tooth using a drill, then fills the cavity with a white tooth-colored composite, porcelain, or silver amalgam filling material.
- Silver amalgam fillings contain mercury, which may be a concern for some people due to health reasons. If this is a concern for you, it’s best to ask the dentist about the materials used for fillings before proceeding.
- Depending on the size of the cavity, you may need to visit the dentist twice to complete the filling process.
Dental Crowns. A dental crown is a cap that covers the entire tooth, often used for more severe cases of tooth decay. Crowns are made from materials that resemble the natural tooth and are typically placed over a metal core.
- In this procedure, the dentist removes the decayed portion of the tooth using a drill and then takes an impression of the tooth.
- The impression is filled with a material similar to the natural tooth, such as porcelain, zirconium, or even gold, to create a crown that matches the shape of the decayed tooth.
- Once the crown is made, the dentist cements it onto the tooth. This procedure may require more than one visit to the dentist.
Root Canal Treatment. This option is only applicable when tooth decay has reached the pulp, the innermost part of the tooth, causing infection or death of the tissue.
- During a root canal, the dentist cuts an opening near the top of the tooth, removes the decayed pulp from the tooth’s chamber and canals, then fills the space with a rubber-like material and seals it with an adhesive.
- Sometimes, after a root canal, you will still need a crown to prevent the tooth from cracking. This can be done either simultaneously with the root canal or months later.
If none of the above methods can save the tooth, extraction may be necessary. Tooth extraction is the only treatment that affects the entire tooth.
- Extraction is required when the tooth is too damaged for any other treatment to be effective.
- After extraction, a gap is left where the tooth was, which can affect the appearance. Additionally, the removal can cause other teeth to shift since the jaw is no longer properly aligned, potentially leading to further dental issues.
- To address this, you may want to consider getting a bridge or dental implant to fill the gap and replace the lost tooth.
Preventing Tooth Decay
Đánh răng ít nhất hai lần mỗi ngày. Bạn cần phải đánh răng ít nhất mỗi ngày hai lần để ngăn ngừa vi khuẩn gây sâu tích tụ trên bề mặt răng.
- Kem đánh răng chứa fluoride có tác dụng làm chắc răng. Trẻ nhỏ có thể bị ngộc độc nếu ăn nhầm kem đánh răng chứa fluoride, do đó bạn chỉ cho một lượng bằng hạt đậu lên bàn chải và giữ ống kem ngoài tầm với của trẻ.
- Bạn cũng nên đánh răng sau khi ăn đồ ăn chứa nhiều đường, axít hay nước sô đa, các thực phẩm này tạo điều kiện dẫn tới sâu răng.
Nhớ xỉa răng. Xỉa răng bằng chỉ nha khoa ít nhất mỗi ngày một lần, tốt nhất là xỉa trước khi đánh răng vào buổi tối.
- Xỉa để loại bỏ vi khuẩn và thức ăn thừa bám lại giữa kẽ răng, nơi lông bàn chải không thể với tới.
- Bạn nhớ xỉa trong từng kẽ răng, đặc biệt những chỗ khó với tới nằm sâu bên trong, xỉa nhẹ nhàng để tránh cho lợi bị đau hay sưng.
Dùng nước súc miệng. Sử dụng nước súc miệng thường xuyên giúp diệt vi khuẩn, loại bỏ mảng bám, ngăn ngừa bệnh về lợi và bảo vệ hơi thở thơm tho.
- Sử dụng nước súc miệng chứa fluoride để tái khoáng hóa răng, ngăn không cho vi khuẩn hình thành axít.
- Bạn cũng nên súc miệng bằng bột magiê và canxi hòa tan trong nước. Đây là cách rất có lợi cho hàm răng có nhiều khe hở: thứ nhất, dung dịch bổ sung chất khoáng cho răng và thứ hai là, trung hòa axít gây sâu răng bằng cách giữ môi trường trong miệng kiềm tính.
Khám răng định kỳ. Bạn nên tới phòng khám nha hai lần mỗi năm để đón đầu tình trạng sâu răng.
- Khám răng định kỳ để phát hiện sớm răng sâu. Việc chỉ cần dùng cách điều trị bằng fluoride hay phải lấy tủy răng vừa tốn tiền vừa đau đớn phụ thuộc vào việc bạn có chăm đi khám răng hay không.
- Nha sĩ hay nhân viên vệ sinh răng có thể vệ sinh toàn diện cho hàm răng bạn, họ lấy mảng bám và ngăn ngừa sâu răng phát triển.
Phủ lớp nhựa mỏng lên răng. Nếu bạn chưa bọc thì nên nhờ nha sĩ phủ một lớp nhựa mỏng trên răng để ngăn ngừa sâu răng.
- Chất phủ này là lớp nhựa rất mỏng, bọc lên mặt nhai của các răng hàm bên trong để ngăn vi khuẩn và mảng bám tích tụ trong các kẽ răng, là nguyên nhân gây ra sâu.
- Chất phủ thường được dùng cho trẻ em khi răng hàm mới mọc, nhưng nó chỉ tồn tại được khoảng 10 năm, vì vậy sau thời gian này bạn nên nhờ nha sĩ bọc lại.
Chewing sugar-free gum. Some sugar-free gums can actually help prevent cavities because they stimulate saliva production, which aids in flushing out food particles and plaque trapped between teeth.
Ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D intake. Your body needs calcium to build strong bones and teeth, while vitamin D helps with calcium absorption. A varied diet rich in these nutrients, such as dairy products and leafy vegetables, is recommended. You might also consider taking vitamin and mineral supplements to fill any gaps.
Use products containing CPP-ACP. This chemical, known as "casein phosphopeptide – amorphous calcium phosphate," might sound complicated, but you can easily find it in everyday foods, especially dairy. The benefits of CPP-ACP are noticeable when it's added to products like toothpaste, mouthwash, and sugar-free gum. These products are more effective at remineralizing mildly damaged enamel, a process called 'remineralization.'
- CPP-ACP works best when used alongside fluoride toothpaste.
- Remineralization is most effective when cavities are detected early. Home remedies won’t help with severe tooth decay.
Address dry mouth. Saliva helps prevent tooth decay, so if you have a dry mouth, it’s important to tackle this issue first by sucking on sugar-free candy, chewing sugar-free gum, and drinking plenty of water. If dry mouth is severe, you should consult a doctor.
- Common causes of dry mouth include smoking, aging, medication use, and dehydration. If you believe your tooth decay is unrelated to these factors, it’s best to visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Address tooth pain.
Advice
- Try brushing your teeth with a little baking soda mixed with toothpaste.
- To prevent and detect cavities early, make sure to schedule regular dental checkups.
- Avoid sugary snacks, and when flossing, don't repeatedly pull the thread back and forth.
Warning
- You might not notice symptoms or signs when a cavity begins to form. However, as the cavity deepens, the signs will become more apparent.
- There are various factors that contribute to tooth decay. For example, cavities can arise from not flossing or incorrect flossing techniques. Other factors include consuming excessive sugary snacks and drinks, or bacteria that may have already been present in the mouth.
- You can purchase fluoride products at the pharmacy, but they don't contain as much fluoride as the professional treatments your dentist uses.
