Having a firmer understanding of oral care and cavity treatment can help you prevent dental problems like tooth decay. There are steps you can take to avoid cavities, and steps you should take if you find yourself suffering one. Your enamel can recover from some damage – with proper cleaning and protection, your teeth can rebuild after minor damage, but a developed cavity needs treatment. Improving on poor brushing and flossing habits will help your teeth, but it is not enough to stop active decay.
If You Have A Cavity, It Will Not Recover On Its Own
You have a limited natural ability to recover from damage to your enamel. The bacteria on your teeth release harmful acids that can erode it, but over time it can rebuild what was lost. What your enamel is not able to recover from is a fully-formed cavity. This sort of damage is too significant for natural recovery, and will require restorative dental care.
Seeking Treatment Earlier Can Save More Of Your Tooth
As far as cavity treatment is concerned, a dental filling is the most conservative approach. Your dentist removes the infection, cleans your tooth, and uses composite resin to replace the enamel that was lost. However, there will come a time when your cavity becomes so large that a filling cannot stand up to the task of restoring your tooth. At this point, your recourse is to receive a dental crown for the tooth.
Combine Good At-Home Care With Regular Checkups To Lower Your Cavity Risk
The more you care for your teeth, the less you have to fear from cavities, and part of that care should be professional in nature. Combine good habits at home with semiannual checkups if you want to stay cavity-free.
