How to Prevent, Stop, & Reverse Tooth Decay: Our Guide

There is nothing more alarming than experiencing tooth decay, as far as your oral health is concerned. The chances are that you have permanent damage to the surface of your tooth. If left unattended for long periods, it can develop into a tiny opening, or worse, a large hole. But the good news is that tooth decay can be prevented, stopped, and, yes, even reversed.

Here at Dental House MI, our dental care in Ann Arbor and Waterford has a wide range of services—from preventive to restorative down to cosmetic dentistry. If you’re looking to stop and even reverse your tooth decay, we’ve got you covered with expert help!

In this article, we will share how you can prevent, stop, and reverse tooth decay.

Why tooth decay happens

Before we go deeper into the care tips, understand that tooth decay refers to the damage to a tooth brought about by a dental plaque that turns sugar into acid. If left untreated, it can escalate to severe oral problems, such as a dental abscess and gum disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of tooth decay include the following:

• Tooth sensitivity
• Toothache
• Visible holes in your tooth
• Brown or black stain on the tooth’s surface

For the most part, tooth decay can be caused by the following:

• Tooth location
• Certain foods and beverages
• Inadequate brushing and flossing
• Not getting enough fluoride
• Dry mouth or not producing enough saliva
• Old age

Key factors to protect against tooth decay

Keep in mind that there are two main protective factors against tooth decay – saliva and fluoride. Take note of the following details regarding them:

• Saliva: It is rich in calcium and phosphate, which serve as tooth minerals required for remineralization. It helps manage the acid levels in your mouth, protect your teeth against bacterial and fungal infections, and transport nutrients, enzymes, and minerals in your body.

• Fluoride: It is a key property used to protect your teeth by helping them in two ways. First, it becomes a part of the growth and development of permanent teeth when absorbed by the body. Second, it incorporates saliva that strengthens teeth from the outside, thereby preventing tooth decay.

How to address tooth decay

As mentioned above, there are three ways to address tooth decay, as follows:

• Prevention: Prevention is always better than finding a cure. If you want to avoid having tooth decay, be sure to know and avoid what causes it. That said, brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day, monitor your food and drink intake, and visit your dentist for an oral checkup and dental treatment every six months.

• Stop: To further stop your tooth decay, you must reduce your exposure to sugar. And as mentioned, be sure to brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste. That way, it will decrease the thickness of dental plaque and stop the decay.

• Reversal: Through the stop process, it will allow saliva to bathe the tooth surfaces. The good news is that this will result in the remineralization of the tooth. As a result, you’ll be able to reverse the effects of tooth decay.

Conclusion

Tooth decay is indeed the most common oral health problem in the world, yet many people don’t know how to remedy it. At this point, you now know what tooth decay is and what causes it. To prevent, stop and reverse your tooth decay, you must follow the practical tips mentioned above so that you will be able to promote good oral health for your own benefit!

Are you looking to address tooth decay? Let our local dentists in Ann Arbor and Waterford help you! Our dental house offers various dental services, from preventive dentistry to cosmetic dentistry down to oral surgery. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services!