How to treat dental caries?

"There are many medical and home treatment options for dental caries. It is important to treat it immediately so the damage does not get worse.”

Thedoctormedical, united states- Dental caries are small holes that form on the tooth surface. These small holes can develop into cavities if left untreated. The cause of this condition is the bacterium Streptococcus mutans , which produces acid from sugar, forms plaque, and causes loss of minerals from tooth enamel. 
This erosion causes small holes in the tooth enamel over time. Then, after the acid damage has spread to the layers of dentin beneath the enamel, a cavity or hole can form. 

Medical Treatment for Dental Caries

Many dental problems, even deep cavities, develop without pain or other symptoms. Regular dental check-ups are the best way to detect dental caries before it gets worse

If you are diagnosed with dental caries, some of the treatments at the dentist that are commonly performed are:

1.Fluoride Treatment

Professional fluoride treatments contain more fluoride than is found in regular toothpastes and mouthwashes. If stronger fluoride is needed on a daily basis, the dentist may prescribe it.

2. Dental Fillings

Fillings are the main treatment when the cavity has grown beyond the tooth enamel.

3. Dental crown installation

Dental crowns are done to cover teeth to deal with severe damage

4. Root Canal Treatment

When tooth decay reaches the inside of the tooth (pulp), root canal treatment may be necessary.

5. Tooth Extraction

This treatment is usually done if dental caries has caused severe damage.

Home Remedies for Dental Caries

What can be done if you have experienced dental caries?

 You can prevent this condition from getting worse with the following home remedies:

1. Chew Sugar-Free Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals can help remineralize the enamel. Sugar-free gum containing a compound called casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP).

These compounds have been shown to reduce S. mutans bacteria. Even more so than gum containing xylitol.

2. Increase your intake of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important to help absorb calcium and phosphate from the food you eat. You can get vitamin D from dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, or by sunbathing in the morning.

3. Brushing Teeth with Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride plays an important role in preventing cavities and remineralizing enamel. Research published in the journal Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology in 2014, shows that brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste regularly can prevent cavities.

4. Reduce Consumption of Sweet Foods

Sweet foods can cause and make dental caries worse. So, as much as possible reduce sugar intake from sweet foods. Also pay attention to the sugar content in packaged food or drinks, which usually contain large amounts of artificial sweeteners.

5. Use Licorice Root

Extract from the Chinese licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) can fight bacteria that cause dental caries, according to a study published in the Journal of Natural Products . Even so, larger and long-term studies are needed in this regard.

These home treatments cannot completely eliminate dental caries. However, these efforts can be made to prevent dental caries from getting bigger and prevent new caries from forming.

The earlier dental caries is detected, the easier it is for dentists to fix it.

Dental Caries and Cavities What's the Difference?
Dental caries and cavities are similar, but actually different. In medicine, dental caries occurs when the structure and layers of the teeth are gradually damaged. Beginning with the erosion of the enamel or the outermost layer of teeth.

Then, the erosion continues into the deeper layers of the tooth. Precisely to the dentin or the middle layer of the tooth, until finally it reaches the root of the tooth or cementum.

When you eat sweets, the natural bacteria in your mouth will turn the sugar into acid. Then, if you are lazy or rarely brush your teeth, the accumulation of acid on your teeth will turn into white, yellow, brown or black plaque on your teeth, and damage or dental caries will occur.

Well, dental caries that is not treated immediately can become severe and cause cavities. Severe cavities can cause unbearable toothache.