You are here because you cannot get rid of your tooth decay. You feel horrible pain when you eat hot, cold or sweet foods. You probably know that tooth decay is one of the most common oral diseases and that is why you are trying to get rid of it. If not treated quickly, tooth decay damages the tooth structure. It can reach the core of the tooth, posing a greater risk to your overall oral health. Don't panic, we have the solutions you need to restore good oral hygiene.
Here is a guide on how to stop the pain of tooth decay.
What is tooth decay?
Tooth decay is an infectious disease that originates from the formation of plaque on the surface of the teeth. It is often caused by poor diet or inadequate tooth brushing. The enamel of the tooth, which is the hard layer on the surface of the tooth, is the first to be affected. This is because a cavity is lodged in the tooth and spreads deep into the tooth. It also develops from the outside inwards. It quickly leads to a progressive destruction of the tooth by bacteria. In the most extreme case, it can reach the pulp and cause pain and a dental abscess.
Natural remedies to relieve tooth decay
The first remedy: cider vinegar mouthwash
Cider vinegar has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is particularly effective in treating tooth decay. Dentists recommend using this natural antiseptic to rinse your mouth two to three times a week.
Here is the recipe for this first natural remedy against cavities:
- Take a small cup to make your mouthwash
- Mix a teaspoon of cider vinegar in a glass of warm water
- Leave it on for a few seconds, moving it around with your cheeks so that the liquid reaches the entire oral cavity.
- Spit out the mouthwash when you feel it is thicker
- Do the same with the rest of the mouthwash
The second remedy: salt water mouthwash
Here is the recipe for this second natural remedy against cavities:
- Prepare a large glass of water
- Dilute 1 teaspoon of sea salt in this glass of water
- Gargle with a sip for 30 seconds in the area where the painful tooth is located
- Remember to spit out the water immediately afterwards
- Repeat several times during the day
It is true that salt water helps to clean the nose. However, it is also known for its disinfectant action. Indeed, unlike baking soda, it is particularly recommended by dentists. It helps to reduce the general inflammation of the mouth.
Third remedy: Peppermint and baking soda mouthwash
These ingredients can be used to care for sensitive teeth and cavities. Diluted baking soda loses its abrasiveness and reveals its disinfectant and antibacterial properties. Peppermint has analgesic properties to relieve oral infections.
- Here is the recipe for this third natural remedy against cavities:
- Take a bottle ideally of 50 ml
- Mix 40 ml of peppermint hydrolate and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.
- Add peppermint essential oil and fresh lemon.
- Use this mouthwash as a gargle for 1 minute, 2 to 3 times a week
The right treatment for tooth decay
The cost of treating tooth decay
It depends mainly on 3 criteria such as the degree of infection, the number of affected surfaces and the age of the patient.
Here are the prices that have been established according to these criteria:
- only one side is affected: children under 13 years of age have to pay 19.28 euros for the treatment of dental caries. An adult or a child over the age of 13 will pay only 16.87 euros.
- two sides are affected: children under 13 years of age have to pay 33.74 euros. However, an adult or a child over 13 will pay less: 28.92 euros.
- three or more sides are reached: children under 13 will have to pay 48.20 euros. On the other hand, an adult or a child over 13 will pay 40.97 euros.
However, it is important to know that the treatment is reimbursed at 70% according to the conventional rates.
The different types of treatment for tooth decay
The objective of these types of caries treatments is always the same: to keep as much tooth tissue as possible and to maintain the tooth in a stable state. However, it is important to understand that the treatment depends on the stage of development of the tooth decay.
Here are the different types of treatment available:
- Fluoride treatment: This type of treatment is carried out if the decay is in its early stages of development. The main aim of this treatment is to make the teeth more resistant to the acid attacks of the bacteria in the dental plaque and sugars.
- Filling: This is the treatment used for cavities that have not yet reached the pulp of the tooth. It consists of cleaning the cavity of the affected tooth to eliminate all the bacteria that are lodged there. It is also necessary to remove it and fill the hole with a "filling" made of dental alloy or resin composites.
- Root canal treatment: This is used when the decay has progressed and reached the dental pulp. The affected, damaged or infected tooth must be devitalized. The tooth is then fixed and sealed with rubber and restored in the same way as a conventional filling.
- Extraction of the decayed tooth: This is done when a cavity has reached a particularly advanced stage. It is extracted to prevent you from experiencing major health problems. Additional care can be provided by placing a dental implant or bridge. These are intended to close the gap and ensure that the teeth remain solid.
- The installation of a dental crown: The objective is to restore the aesthetic aspect and the main functions of your teeth. It is made of ceramic, which is a material whose colour closely resembles that of the teeth.
Prevention of complications related to dental caries
It is important not only to treat tooth decay. Tooth decay has serious consequences for general oral health. It can cause facial pain and swelling. It also causes problems with chewing.
Here are a few tips that will help you to gradually heal yourself:
- Adopt good oral hygiene: it is ideal to brush your teeth after each meal with an electric toothbrush that brushes all teeth and surfaces at the same time.
- Opt for products that are rich in fluoride: fluoride's main effect is to reduce the action of bacteria that cause tooth decay and to strengthen teeth, and it is added to certain dental products. Therefore, opt for fluoridated toothpastes and mouthwashes.
- Try to eat a healthy diet: Ideally, you should not consume sugar, which is the most dangerous for your teeth. It is also important to avoid all soft drinks, juices containing added sugars, sweets, biscuits and pastries.
- Use dental floss and interdental brushes: Dental floss helps to remove residual plaque in the interdental spaces. Interdental brushes allow you to clean between your teeth, in areas that a normal toothbrush cannot reach.
- Use a soft, electric toothbrush: These are often designed to address cavities that regularly develop in the spaces between teeth, which are harder to reach with a traditional toothbrush.
The Y-Brush toothbrush has several modes of sonic vibrations and various brushing times. It offers a real automation of the gesture and duration. The vibration mode chosen depends on the dental sensitivity of each person or the need for brushing. It can therefore relieve your tooth decay very quickly.
We hope that this guide has given you a better understanding of the impact of untreated tooth decay on your health. Mouthwashes can be used primarily to minimise the pain. However, treating tooth decay at the dentist and preventing complications will help you put an end to it.
