Tooth decay is the most common problem and can affect both adults and children. When the bacteria from the food you eat starts settling in your teeth, it loosens the protective layer over your teeth, called enamel.
This causes your teeth to develop plaque, and if left untreated, this plaque can lead to tooth decay.
According to research(1), most adults have 3.68 decayed teeth on average. Though tooth decay is a prevalent problem, it is also easy to get rid of tooth decay with proper dental care.
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Symptoms and Causes of Tooth Decay
Tooth decay occurs in stages the treatment depends on the stage of tooth decay. The early signs of tooth decay are not as obvious and can start with breaking down the enamel on your teeth, causing decay pockets on the surface.
These pockets are a resting place for bacteria, which leads to cavities. When the cavities worsen, they develop into tooth decay.
The common symptoms of tooth decay, include tooth sensitivity, spontaneous tooth sensitivity, tooth pain when eating something hot or cold, or visible brown or black stain on your tooth.
You can get rid of tooth decay easily if you follow proper dental hygiene along with some effective natural remedies.
How to Get Rid of Tooth Decay Using Naturopathic Remedies
- Home Remedies
- Herbs
- Essential Oils
- FAQs
CURE 1: Home Remedies
Tooth decay can be completely reversed if caught in the early stages. Tooth decay is caused when the enamel on your teeth becomes ineffective, but taking proper care of your teeth can harden the enamel once again. Here are some home remedies for tooth decay.
1. Oil pulling
Why use?
Oil pulling is the oldest and most effective natural remedy for tooth decay. It involves swishing around sesame or coconut in your mouth, particularly around the decaying tooth. This technique removes toxins from your teeth. According to research by the Indian Journal of Dental Research(2), this also sesame oil also helps reduce plaque and other bacteria in the mouth.
How to use?
Take 2 spoons of sesame oil or coconut oil in a cup and put in your mouth. Swish it in your mouth for 15-20 minutes then spit it out.
How much to use?
Use the oil twice a day, or after every meal, for effective results.
2. Liquorice root
Why use?
The Chinese liquorice plant can help to fight the bacteria that cause cavities. Chewing on liquorice root can also reduce the pain associated with severe tooth decay.
How to use?
You can take liquorice root tea or chew on plain liquorice root for some time then spit it out.
How much to use?
Take liquorice root once a day or when you experience ache from tooth decay. You can use this remedy in a small quantity for toddler toothache as well.
3. Brush with fluoride toothpaste
Why use?
Fluoride helps to harden enamel and prevents cavities. Many studies have also shown that using fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash can help to reverse tooth decay.
How to use?
Use a fluoride toothpaste whenever you brush your teeth. Also, rinse your mouth with a fluoride-infused mouthwash after every meal.
How much to use?
Make sure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day to get rid of tooth decay.
4. Bentonite clay
Why use?
Bentonite clay is a natural alternative to using toothpaste for brushing your teeth. Bentonite clay can reduce tooth sensitivity and help to fight harmful bacteria. It also works as an astringent and removes tartar from your gums.
How to use?
Replace your traditional toothpaste with the more natural bentonite clay when brushing your teeth.
How much to use?
You can use bentonite clay every day to brush your teeth and prevent tooth decay.
5. Vitamin D
Why use?
Vitamin D helps absorb calcium and phosphorus from the food you eat. A deficiency in calcium can make your teeth more vulnerable to cavities.
How to use?
Some rich sources of Vitamin D include yoghurt, milk, cheese. Early morning sun is also a good source of vitamin D.
How much to use?
The recommended daily intake of vitamin D is 10 micrograms.
Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases, second only to the common cold(3).
CURE 2: Herbs
A variety of herbs have been used to treat tooth decay since ancient times. Many herbs have antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help to fix tooth decay. Below are the most effective herbs for tooth decay.
1. Goldenseal
Why use?
Goldenseal has antibacterial properties that help to keep plaque away and reverse tooth decay. The herb is also used to relieve tooth decay pain.
How to use?
Add fresh goldenseal leaves to your tea when brewing it. You can also boil goldenseal in a pot of water and strain this water in your mouth wash.
How much to use?
Drink the goldenseal-infused tea every day.
2. Thyme
Why use?
Thyme is antifungal and also a natural antiseptic. This herb helps to relieve tooth decay and can be used to treat gum diseases as well.
How to use?
Thyme tea can be taken daily, or you can apply thyme tincture directly on your aching tooth.
How much to use?
Try to use or apply thyme daily to get rid of tooth decay.
3. Myrrh
Why use?
Myrrh is a popular herb when it comes to maintaining oral health. It has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce tooth decay.
How to use?
Add myrrh oil to your mouthwash or soak a cotton ball in myrrh and apply it over the tooth decay.
How much to use?
Too much myrrh can be toxic, so use myrrh only once a day to stop tooth decay.
4. Common Sage
Why use?
Common sage has a lot of health benefits, including antibacterial properties that help to reduce tooth decay. According to a study(4), sage-infused mouthwash can help to kill bacteria that cause tooth decay and cavities.
How to use?
Add fresh sage leaves to boiling water and let it steep. Now strain this water into your mouthwash.
How much to use?
Use the common sage mouthwash every day to get faster relief from tooth decay.
5. Neem
Why use?
Neem contains antibacterial properties and is popularly used to heal wounds. The herb is also used to prevent gum diseases.
How to use?
Chew on fresh need leaves to get rid of tooth decay. You can also dip neem leaves in coconut oil and place it over the aching tooth.
How much to use?
You can chew on neem leaves 2-3 times a day or whenever you feel toothache in the decayed tooth.
Eating too many processed or sugary foods can cause tooth decay since your teeth don’t get time to recover.
CURE 3: Essential Oils
Essential oils have been used to treat many skin and health problems, but did you know that these oils can also help to get rid of tooth decay? Essential oils can help to relieve tooth decay pain and also fight bacteria in your mouth. Following are the top essential oils for tooth decay.
1. Cinnamon oil
Why use?
Cinnamon oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is also a natural cleanser. The oil is known for antimicrobial compounds that help fight bacteria in the teeth and prevent tooth decay.
How to use?
Add 4-5 drops of cinnamon oil in your toothpaste to get the most benefits from the oil.
How much to use?
Brush your teeth with the cinnamon oil and toothpaste mix twice a day.
2. Clove oil
Why use?
Clove is a spice used to add flavor to many dishes. The oil extracted from this spice can also help with tooth decay, and clove is also a common ingredient in toothpaste. This is because clove oil has soothing and cleansing properties that prevent plaque from forming on your teeth.
How to use?
Take 2-3 drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and place it over the affected tooth. This will reduce pain and fight bacteria.
How much to use?
Apply the clove oil over tooth decay 2-3 times a day or when the tooth hurts.
3. Tea tree oil
Why use?
Tea tree oil is a popular natural remedy for bad breath, and the oil also helps to fight plaque. Tea tree oil fights bacteria in your mouth and also relieve bleeding gums.
How to use?
Add a few drops of tea tree oil to your toothpaste and mouthwash to help get rid of tooth decay.
How much to use?
Use the tea tree oil-infused toothpaste or mouthwash daily.
4. Lemon oil
Why use?
Using lemon oil as a mouthwash can help to prevent bacterial infection. The oil also has natural astringent properties that can help to remove the plaque accumulated on your teeth.
How to use?
Mix 3-4 drops of lemon oil in a glass of distilled water and use as a mouthwash after every meal.
How much to use?
Rinse with lemon oil mouthwash 2-3 times a day.
Early stages of tooth decay don’t have any symptoms, and the decay process is reversible at this stage. X-ray or a professional exam is needed to identify tooth decay at the initial stage.
Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay
If you have teeth, you are susceptible to tooth decay. But, there are certain things you can do that will help to prevent tooth decay.
- Use dental floss to clean between your teeth daily, since the gaps between your teeth are a good resting place for bacteria.
- Eat balanced meals and avoid eating a lot of sugary foods, since that can damage your teeth.
- Get your teeth cleaned regularly by a dentist and schedule regular checkups to maintain the health of your teeth.
- Brush your teeth twice a day at least or after every meal with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Use mouthwash regularly at least once a day for added protection against cavities.
- Many fresh fruits and vegetables contain calcium vitamin D, which strengthens your teeth and helps maintain overall dental health.
- Cavities are more common in children and teens, due to the increased consumption of candy and sweets. So, set a limit on the amount of candy that your child eats.
- Dental sealants are another option to stop tooth decay. These are protective coverings on the surface of your molars and back chewing teeth. Check with your dentist to see if dental sealants are a useful solution for you.
Tooth decay occurs when the acids wear away the tooth’s protective layer.
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study(5), more than 3.5 billion people worldwide have some form of cavity or tooth decay in their permanent teeth. Taking proper care of your teeth can help to prevent tooth decay.
Early signs of tooth decay can be hard to detect, so if you start experiencing pain or sensitivity in your teeth, consult your dentist, since you may already have a more advanced stage of tooth decay.
Also Read: Home Remedies to Get Rid of Toothache
FAQs
1. How to remove tooth decay yourself?
Oil pulling and brushing with fluoride toothpaste is the best home remedies to stop tooth decay.
2. How does plaque lead to tooth decay?
Plaque is referred to a group of bacteria that form on your teeth as a by-product of the food and drinks you consume. When not removed daily, these plaques can gradually lead to tooth decay.
3. Can tooth decay be reversed?
It is possible to reverse tooth decay by monitoring your sugar intake. Following proper dental hygiene can also help to curb the plaque that forms on your teeth.