Can I Treat a Cavity on My Own?

Can I Treat a Cavity on My Own?

Do you have a nagging pain in your mouth and suspect a cavity? Cavities go by several names, including tooth decay and dental caries, and they’re a primary cause of toothaches, tooth sensitivity, and pain when chewing. 

It’s hard to ignore the pain of a cavity, so you might wonder if you can treat one on your own 一 and the answer is no. 

A cavity is a permanently decayed area of your tooth where acid-producing bacteria have eaten away the tooth’s enamel. You can’t restore or rebuild tooth enamel, so you can’t treat a cavity on your own. The only way to stop the spread of decay is to remove the decay and fill the cavity. 

That said, you can help mitigate some pain on your own before your cavity treatment at SmileBoutique in Mount Vernon, New York. 

Managing cavity pain at home

Toothaches caused by cavities won’t go away until the underlying cause 一 tooth decay 一 is addressed, so it’s important not to delay treatment. However, there are ways to manage the pain until your appointment. 

You can try:

To make a salt water rinse, combine 1 cup of warm, filtered water with 1 teaspoon of regular table salt. Stir until dissolved and use as a mouthwash. 

Treating tooth decay with fillings 

Our mission at SmileBoutique is to help make your smile beautiful and healthy. To achieve that, we provide state-of-the-art and comprehensive dental care, including innovative digital X-rays to confirm the extent of tooth decay and several filling options.

Whatever size cavity, Wayne Hofflich, DDS, can treat it and your toothache. Once we confirm a cavity, we administer a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable. We remove the decayed material, clean the tooth, and add filling material. 

The filling helps give your tooth strength and structure and stops the spread of decay. Your mouth may be numb for a bit, but there’s no downtime. You can continue with your day after the procedure.

Why prompt dental care matters

You may be able to take the edge off of a toothache at home, but don’t delay getting the care you need. Left untreated, cavities (even small ones) can snowball into bigger problems. Routine cleanings allow us to spot cavities when they’re small.

Decay that spreads can compromise the health of your tooth pulp, the inner portion of your tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. 

If the cavity grows too big, a simple filling won’t be enough; a large cavity may require a crown. If the decay reaches your pulp, you may need a root canal, especially if there’s an infection.

If you’re bothered by a toothache, book an appointment today by phone or online and say goodbye to cavity pain.

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