Can you reverse a cavity in your tooth? Here's what dentists say. (original) (raw)

I dread going to the dentist as much as the next person — which is why any video suggesting that I might not have to catches my attention. Lately, I’ve been drawn to TikTok clips sharing how to reverse a cavity without visiting the dentist for a filling.

Some videos say that it’s as easy as chewing a nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste tablet (“imagine a spot treatment for acne, but for your tooth,” says one TikToker identifying herself as the daughter of a dentist). Or you can supposedly apply a whitening strip that uses the same ingredient, which one young woman claims “basically rebuilds your teeth.” But that can’t be true, can it?

Here’s what dentists tell Yahoo Life about the potential to reverse dental cavities — and why you can’t escape their offices entirely.

Is it possible to reverse a cavity?

In some cases, maybe — but only at a certain point, says Dr. Whitney White, dentist and practice owner at Aspen Dental.

“A cavity is a decayed spot on your tooth that results in a hole or weakness in the enamel,” she tells Yahoo Life. “Cavities are caused by bacteria and plaque in your mouth, which produces acid that erodes the tooth enamel over time.”

There is a limited amount of time when the cavity affects just the enamel, or the tooth’s outer surface, before reaching the dentin, or the pulp of the tooth. During this window of time, reversing a cavity may be possible using fluoride or hydroxyapatite, according to White. “Once the cavity has passed the first layer of the tooth into the dentin, a cavity can’t be reversed,” she says.

Remineralizing is a better term for the process of reversing a cavity, says Dr. Anna Berik, owner of Newton Dental Associates and the Center for Oral Surgery and Implantology in Boston. She tells Yahoo Life that a tooth is made up of minerals including hydroxyapatite, fluoride and calcium, which is why they can be used to strengthen its enamel and prevent further damage.

“If we catch these things small and early, we have a couple options for patients,” says Berik. “It may not work but it’s cheap and easy to do and it’s way better than having a filing, if one doesn’t need it.”

How to do it

Applying hydroxyapatite or fluoride to the teeth in the form of toothpastes, mouthwashes or gels are great options to try. White says that fluoride treatments specifically might be administered in a dentist’s office but there are ways to use it at home, with a dentist's recommendation.

“A TikTok trend that I really love as a dentist is putting fluoride toothpaste on floss, then using that to floss in between the teeth,” she says. “This is a great way to get fluoride in between the teeth where your toothbrush does not reach and where cavities form.”

Xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol, is another ingredient that she recommends to patients prone to cavities. “It helps prevent the cavity causing bacteria from producing acid, which in turn reduces the risk of cavities,” she says. “The ingredient can be found in many products these days, like chewing gum.”

Other at-home remedies offered on TikTok should be avoided, such as those involving bentonite clay to reverse a cavity. Even whitening strips with additional hydroxyapatite won’t do the trick. “Whitening strips can be harmful in some cases,” Dr. Jason B. Cellars, cosmetic dentist at Seacliff Dental in Huntington Beach, Calif., tells Yahoo Life. “If you have exposed dentin, very thin enamel, exposed cavities or root surfaces showing, the acid in whitening strips can erode more tooth structure than can be remineralized and so should be avoided.”

“I would be extremely careful with DIY treatments or products that are not approved by the American Dental Association. The worst-case scenario is that you could permanently damage your teeth,” says White.

So … can I skip the dentist?

Nope — sorry. The early stages of a cavity, when it is reversible and preventable, “can’t be seen in your mirror,” says Cellars. “There’s no way to catch these cavities early unless you go to the dentist, which is why we take X-rays, usually once a year.” These X-rays allow dentists to see if any small cavities are forming in between the teeth “so that we can either prevent it or reverse it before it becomes a big issue,” he tells Yahoo Life.

White says a cavity might appear as a white spot in its early stages. However, Berik points out that many cavities are formed between teeth where even a spot can’t be noticed. Otherwise, a patient is typically waiting until they experience pain or sensitivity. At that point, it’s too late for a reversal.

“By the time it hurts, you're not dealing with something superficial that maybe you can help in a very palliative way,” Berik says. “You're talking about treatment; you're talking about fillings.”