8 Home Remedies for Cavities

Some home treatments, including fluoride toothpaste, won’t get rid of existing cavities, but they might help prevent new ones. If you want to remove a cavity, you might have to see a dentist. Dental cavities, also known as caries, are small holes in the hard surface of the teeth. They are mainly caused by bacteria on the surface of teeth creating acid out of sugar. The most common culprit is a bacterium known as Streptococcus mutans. The bacteria create a sticky film known as plaque. The acids in plaque then remove the minerals from your enamel, which is a coating of the teeth made mostly of calcium and phosphate. This erosion causes small holes in the enamel. Once the acid damage manages to spread into the dentin layer underneath the enamel, a cavity is created.