I Need a Filling. Can I Treat It At Home?

10-07-2019

Whether you’ve been told you have a hole in your tooth when visiting the dentist, or you’re getting pain from one of your teeth, you’re going to need a filling.

Can I treat my cavity at home?

I’ve seen so many adverts on the internet claiming that you can ‘heal’ a decayed tooth naturally without coming to see us. Unfortunately, I’m here to tell you that you can’t.

Really? Aren’t you saying that because you’re a dentist?

There is no magic formula that will reverse decay, especially if it has penetrated through the outer layer of your tooth, known as the enamel. Once it has destroyed that, the decay will spread rapidly through the dentine layer, and this is usually when you start getting pain and discomfort. I’ve seen all sorts of adverts claiming that using ‘natural’ remedies will heal a tooth. One of the most ridiculous I read was to create a paste made of milk, crushed vegetables and toothpaste and to leave on the tooth overnight! And there are also companies trying to sell products that claim to get rid of cavities.

So why shouldn’t I try one of these products?

It won’t work, it’ll waste time and it’ll cost you more money in the long run. So, here are the facts:If the decay is only on the enamel surface, it is possible to slow down and even stop the spread of decay, but this really needs to be monitored by a dentist to make sure it doesn’t start spreading. You can help by always brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, chewing sugar free gum after meals and cutting out sugary foods. We can also apply a fluoride varnish to help ‘arrest’ the decay, which means to stop it from spreading.

Well if you can stop it, surely you can reverse it?

You cannot reverse decay. It must be removed from the tooth to stop it spreading and causing serious damage. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, then please contact us to make an appointment. A small problem now may become a big problem later on, so get it sorted!

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment, please do not hesitate to call us on 0121 550 6958.