
Cavities cause holes and damage to our teeth if we do not practice good oral hygiene habits. It costs time and money to go to the dentist to get a tooth filled. But is it possible for a person to perform a DIY tooth filling on themselves at home? Is this even a good idea?
Causes of cavities
There are many reasons why cavities would form on our teeth. Everything would start because food particles get lodged in between the spaces of teeth. Then a sneaky type of bacteria called Streptococcus mutans would be attracted to the food particles and then they would form plaque around the tooth. The formed plaque will not work to demineralize the enamel of the tooth until the dentin of the tooth is reached and a hole is formed. That hole is now a newly formed cavity.
Homemade tooth filling
Is it safe to consider this kind of treatment? Sometimes when you are faced with a dental emergency, and there would be no way for you to see a dentist until the next day, or worse, it is a weekend and the next Monday would be the soonest time you would have access to a dentist, you may be able to safely protect yourself using a DIY tooth filling.
You can use one drop of Eugenol clove oil and one-eighth teaspoon of a Zinc oxide powder to craft your tooth filling. Mix the two ingredients until it turns into a putty. Dry the affected tooth and the cavity before putting the putty into the hole. Clean the area up with floss being careful not to dislodge the newly applied filling. You can cover this filling putty to prevent it from drying out. You can reuse and reapply the putty until you can get hold of a dentist.
In a nutshell…
Applying your homemade filling is a better idea that just leaving the cavity open. This is especially true for people who cannot see a dentist for an extended period. Practicing good oral habits can also ensure that the rest of your teeth stay safe from cavities.
Prevention of cavities is easy. One way is to get lots of vitamin D because studies have shown that a decreased level in vitamin D results in cavities. Brushing and flossing at least two times a day will also ward off the bacteria and unwanted plaque from teeth. If you do manage to put a DIY tooth filling, make sure to see a dentist as soon as you can for treatment of your cavity.