How to Know if You Have a Cavity and You’re Not Aware of It
Cavities can happen to just about anybody, especially those who regularly eat foods such as bread, candy, fruit and anything else with plenty of carbohydrates. When carbohydrates stay on your teeth, the bacteria in your mouth turns them into acid that eats away at your teeth, resulting in cavities. Many people are unaware they have cavities until they visit their dentist, but there are some early warning signs you can look for before you make your next dental appointment.
How to Tell You Have a Cavity
1. The most common cavity symptom you will experience will be a toothache. Particularly bad cases of tooth decay could hurt constantly, but in its early stages you will most likely feel pain when you eat or drink something cold or something sweet. You may also feel some general pain when you chew anything at all. The pain is typically localized to a single tooth.
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2. You can sometimes feel chips or pits in your teeth if you have a cavity. These are a little harder to detect without the help of a dentist, but they can be felt if a cavity is in its more advanced stages.
3. Finally, you might notice some dark spots on a tooth if you have a cavity. If a cavity is bad enough, the entire tooth might start to turn black. This is a worst-case scenario that usually calls for an extraction or a root canal.
Treating Cavities
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Cavities that are particularly severe will need to be treated by a dentist. Treatment usually consists of removing the decayed part of the tooth with a drill and filling the cavity with a filling or a sealant. On the other hand, a cavity in its early stages can be treated through lifestyle changes and some home remedies.
To prevent and even reverse minor tooth decay, the first thing you should do is cut sugar from your diet. This means staying away from soda, candy and baked goods containing sugar. If you must use something sweet in a recipe, consider using raw honey instead of cane sugar.
Once you’ve cut most or all of the sugar from your diet, your next step is to add more foods to your diet that will be better for your teeth. Raw dairy such as goat’s milk kefir is great for strengthening your teeth and preventing tooth decay. Dairy products contain calcium, vitamin K2, phosphorus, magnesium and other vitamins and minerals that are important for dental health. Other foods and supplements that can help reverse tooth decay include bone broth, cod liver oil and coconut oil. Fruit can be eaten safely, but it’s best to stick with it early in the morning. Finally, avoid processed foods and fast food. They are loaded with carbohydrates that will damage your teeth.
