I've been hearing some people talk about reversing cavities naturally by remineralizing teeth or something like that, and um... honestly it sounds a bit too good to be true? Like, I've always thought once you have a cavity, that's it—you gotta fill it. But lately I've seen stuff online about diet changes, special toothpastes, and supplements that can supposedly help. Has anyone here actually tried this and had success, or is this just wishful thinking?
"Like, I've always thought once you have a cavity, that's it—you gotta fill it."
I used to think exactly the same thing, but after a dentist quoted me a pretty hefty bill for fillings, I decided to look into this remineralization stuff myself. From what I gathered, it seems like if the cavity is still in the early stages (like just enamel damage), you might have a shot at reversing it with diet changes and fluoride toothpaste. I switched to a toothpaste with hydroxyapatite and started cutting back on sugary snacks and acidic drinks. Honestly, my teeth did feel stronger and less sensitive after a few months... but I can't say for sure if any cavities actually "healed."
The tricky part is knowing how far along your cavity is—once it's past a certain point, you're probably stuck getting it filled anyway. Has anyone here actually had their dentist confirm that their cavity improved or disappeared after trying these natural methods? I'd be curious to hear if there's solid proof out there or if we're all just hoping to dodge dental bills...
I used to think exactly the same thing, but after a dentist quoted me a pretty hefty bill for fillings, I decided to look into this remineralization stuff myself. From what I gathered, it seems l...
I totally get the hesitation about fillings—I had a similar experience. My dentist pointed out a tiny cavity forming and suggested we "watch it" for a bit. I panicked, did the whole remineralization thing (fluoride rinse, less sugar, etc.), and at my next check-up, she actually said it looked better! But she also warned me that once it hits dentin, it's game over. So yeah, early stages might be reversible, but it's risky to wait too long...
I've seen this happen quite a bit actually. Had a patient once who was super determined to avoid fillings, so she went all-in on fluoride toothpaste, rinses, and cut back on sugary drinks. Next check-up, the enamel looked noticeably stronger and the cavity hadn't progressed at all. But yeah, once decay reaches deeper layers like dentin, remineralization won't cut it anymore...so catching it early is key. It's definitely possible—but just be careful not to push your luck too far.
I've noticed similar outcomes myself. A close friend had early-stage decay diagnosed at her dental check-up and decided to overhaul her oral hygiene routine—switched to a high-fluoride toothpaste, flossed religiously, and drastically reduced sugary snacks. Six months later, the dentist was genuinely impressed; the enamel had strengthened, and the cavity hadn't progressed at all. Still, like you mentioned, once decay gets deeper into the tooth structure, natural methods won't reverse it...early intervention really does make all the difference.
