Parents and adults often question if teeth can repair itself once early tooth decay is discovered during a routine check-up. Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions worldwide. Many people will ask if natural methods can repair their early enamel decay so they do not have to get drilled or filled.
A cavity can only fully repair itself depending on how far along the decay is in your tooth. As there are many stages of early tooth decay, early enamel decay can naturally repair itself. However, if there is a hole in your tooth, you will need professional dental treatment. This evidence-based article will explain the stages of early cavities, natural remineralisation, safe home treatments and prevention methods.
What Is Early Enamel Decay and How Does Remineralisation Work?
Every tooth in humans has a hard shell known as the enamel. This is mainly made up of strong minerals such as calcium and phosphate. Every day our mouths naturally strip away and replace the enamel.
What Is Demineralisation?
• Bacteria naturally live in your mouth inside plaque.
• These bacteria feed off sugar and starchy foods in your diet.
• They produce acid that strips away calcium and phosphate from the outside of your enamel.
What Is Remineralisation?
• Saliva will naturally help repair your teeth.
• It replaces the important minerals in your teeth with calcium, phosphate and proteins.
• Saliva also neutralizes the plaque acids.
How Does Tooth Decay Occur?
• If the acid is stripping away more enamel than saliva can repair then tooth decay will occur.
Can A Cavity Repair Itself?
There are different stages of early tooth decay. Only the very first stage of tooth decay will repair itself naturally.
What Happens During the White Spot Stage?
• Early tooth decay will appear as small white spots on the enamel.
• This is because the acid has damaged the enamel underneath the tooth.
• However, there is still no hole in the enamel.
• At this stage the enamel can be fully repaired and reversed with daily mineral treatments.
What Happens During Enamel Breakdown?
• If the minerals continue to be taken away then the enamel will break down.
• This will create a hole in your teeth.
What Happens During Irreversible Damage?
• Once there is a hole in the enamel your enamel will have no structure and bacteria will get into the cavity.
• No matter how much care you take at home, or change your diet and saliva will not grow new enamel.
• A licensed dentist will need to clean and fill the hole.
What Is the Role Of Saliva in Preventing Tooth Decay?
Saliva naturally helps to protect your teeth from early tooth decay. It helps keep your mouth balanced.
How Does Saliva Neutralize Acids?
• Saliva contains bicarbonate to increase your pH levels in your mouth following eating.
• This stops acid from damaging your enamel.
How Does Saliva Replace Minerals?
• Healthy saliva will replace the minerals in your teeth with calcium and phosphate ions.
How Does Saliva Remove Bacteria?
• As saliva is constantly flowing it removes any loose food particles.
• This stops the bacteria from attaching to your teeth.
How Do Protective Proteins Help Your Enamel?
• Natural proteins in saliva form a thin layer to protect your enamel.
What Are the Evidence-Based Treatments To Repair Enamel?
Dentists can treat early enamel decay with various evidence-based treatments.
How Does Fluoride Varnish Help Repair Enamel?
• A high concentration of fluoride varnish can be applied by pediatric and general dentists to early white spot lesions.
• This binds to the calcium and phosphate to create fluorapatite crystals which will not be affected by acid like natural enamel.
How Does Silver Diamine Fluoride Work?
• Dentists will brush silver diamine fluoride onto early decay spots.
• The silver will kill the bacteria causing the decay, whilst the fluoride will harden the teeth.
How Does Resin Infiltration Treat Early Decay?
• Dentists will smooth a clear liquid resin over the porous white spots.
• This will harden under special lights to stop the bacteria getting into the enamel.
• This will help stabilize the early decay spots.
When Is High Fluoride Toothpaste Prescribed?
• Therapeutic toothpastes with high levels of fluoride can be prescribed by dental professionals if you are at high risk of cavities or suffer from extreme dry mouth.
How Can You Help Repair Enamel At Home?
You can strengthen your teeth and help them repair naturally by making some lifestyle changes.
Why Should You Brush Twice A Day With Fluoride?
• Brush all your teeth for 2 minutes twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste.
• This will help speed up the mineral intake in early enamel.
How Can Hydroxyapatite Products Help?
• Hydroxyapatite toothpastes will help the teeth by providing calcium and phosphate particles to bind to the damaged enamel.
Why Should You Chew Xylitol Sugar Free Gum?
• Chewing xylitol gum after meals will increase saliva production.
• This will help prevent the bacteria causing decay to produce acid to damage your enamel.
Why Is It Important to Floss Daily?
• Flossing will remove any plaque from in between your teeth.
• This plaque will cause hidden cavities between your teeth.
How Does Drinking Fluoridated Tap Water Help?
• Drinking tap water throughout the day will help wash away any food debris, hydrate your salivary glands and provide a low dose of fluoride.
What Dietary Changes Can Help Repair Enamel?
Your diet can help determine if your mouth becomes acidic or re-mineralised.
Why Should You Avoid Snacking On Sugary Foods?
• Try to avoid eating foods like fruit juice, fizzy drinks, sticky sweets and refined carbs.
• Eating regularly will cause acid to attack your teeth for longer than your body can repair with saliva.
Which Calcium Rich Foods Should You Eat?
• Plain yogurt, hard cheese, leafy greens and almonds are all good for your teeth.
• Dairy products contain calcium, phosphate and casein proteins which will help strengthen your enamel.
Why Should You Rinse With Water After Eating?
• After eating acidic or carbs rich foods rinse with water.
• This will help remove any leftover sugars.
Why Should You Avoid Acidic Drinks?
• Try to avoid drinking sports drinks, energy drinks, citrus juices and flavored sparkling water.
• These drinks will strip away enamel minerals.
What Are the Signs You Need To See A Dentist?
If you leave your teeth to decay they will become severely damaged, causing extreme pain and complex treatments. If you notice any of these signs book an appointment with a dentist.
What Does a Visible Hole in Your Tooth Mean?
• If you can see dark spots, brown holes or jagged holes in your teeth then your enamel has broken down.
• This means you will need a professional filling.
Why Does Hot Or Cold Food Cause Tooth Pain?
• If you experience ongoing sensitivity or pain when eating hot soups or cold drinks then the decay has reached the sensitive layer of your teeth.
What Does Constant Tooth Pain Indicate?
• If you experience constant throbbing pain in your teeth then this means the infection has gotten worse and will require root canal or extraction.
What Do Swollen Gums Indicate?
• If your gums are swollen, your face is swollen or you have bad tastes in your mouth then this means there is an active infection.
What Are the Frequently Asked Questions About Small Cavities?
Can Coconut Oil Pulling Cure A Small Cavity?
• No, oil pulling will not cure or fill a cavity.
• Whilst it will reduce bacteria in your mouth it will not contain the important minerals needed to repair your enamel.
How Long Does Enamel Remineralisation Take?
• Early white spot lesions can take between 3-6 months to repair with consistent remineralisation treatments.
Can Severe Tooth Decay Repair Itself?
• No severe tooth decay will not repair itself.
• Once the enamel breaks down you will need a licensed dentist to remove the decay and fill the gap with strong tooth colored filling.
Early tooth decay can be reversed. During the early stages of demineralisation the enamel can repair itself. Natural saliva, a healthy diet, fluoride treatments and daily care will help replace the minerals and strengthen the white spot lesions. However, once there is structural decay and a cavity has formed the teeth will no longer repair themselves. Book regular check-ups every 6 months to catch any early enamel damage and keep your natural healthy smile.