Can You Actually Reverse a Cavity?
Hi, Dr Kat here from My Dentist Brisbane in Alderley.
If you’ve been told you have an “early cavity”, don’t panic. It may actually be reversible.
This is one of the most common things patients are surprised to hear when they sit in our chair. We’ve all grown up believing that the moment decay appears, the drill comes out. But early damage to enamel can sometimes repair itself when we support the teeth properly — so I thought I’d make a short video walking you through exactly how to give your teeth that chance.
Start with a remineralising toothpaste
Brush, then spit out — but don’t rinse. Rinsing washes away the very minerals you’re trying to leave behind. In fact, I want you to floss straight afterwards and pull that toothpaste in between the teeth, so those helpful minerals stay right where the enamel needs them.
Chew xylitol gum after every meal
Chewing gum with xylitol increases saliva flow and reduces the bacteria that cause cavities.Saliva is your body’s own repair fluid — the more of it washing over your teeth after eating, the better.
Avoid constant snacking
Every time you eat, your mouth goes through an acid attack. If you’re grazing all day, your teeth never get a break. Give them time to rest and recover between meals.
Breathing matters too
This is one a lot of people don’t know about. If your mouth is dry at night, your enamel loses some of its natural protection. If you’re a mouth breather, it may be worth considering mouth taping so your teeth stay bathed in saliva overnight.
If decay keeps returning, test your oral microbiome
A simple saliva test can reveal exactly which bacteria are causing the problem — just like a blood test does for the rest of your body. Rather than guessing, we get to see what’s actually driving the decay and treat that.
When we support the right environment in the mouth, small areas of damage can often heal — and you won’t need a filling.
If you’ve been told you have early decay and you’d like to explore whether it can be reversed, we would love to look after you. Simply complete the enquiry form on our website, give us a call, or direct message us on social media, and we’ll be in touch to organise your appointment.
See you in the next video!
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