How To Get Rid Of Cavities: 6 Home Remedies - Healthline

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How to Get Rid of Cavities

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Jacquelyn Cafasso — Updated on October 18, 2023

Home treatments
See a dentist
The bottom line

While home treatments including fluoride toothpaste won’t get rid of existing cavities, they may help prevent new ones. You’ll need to see a dentist to remove a cavity.

Dental cavities, or caries, are tiny holes in the hard surface of the teeth. They are 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 form a sticky film known as plaque. The acids in plaque remove minerals from (demineralize) your enamel — a coating of the teeth made mostly of calcium and phosphate. This erosion causes tiny holes in the enamel. Once the acid damage spreads into the dentin layer underneath the enamel, a cavity forms.

Getting rid of cavities at home

Many home treatments are based off of a study from the 1930s that suggested that cavities are caused by lack of vitamin D in the diet. In this study, kids who added vitamin D to their diets showed a reduction in cavities. However, those who added vitamin D while also removing grain products from their diets had the best results. This is possibly because grains can stick to the teeth.

Not getting enough vitamin D may make teeth more susceptible to cavities, but we now understand that this is only a part of the puzzle. Other risk factors for cavities include:

dry mouth or having a medical condition that reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth
eating foods that cling to teeth, like candy and sticky foods
frequent snacking on sugary foods or drinks, like soda, cereals, and ice cream
heartburn (due to acid)
inadequate cleaning of teeth
bedtime infant feeding

Once a cavity has penetrated the dentin, you won’t be able to get rid of it at home. The following home remedies might help prevent cavities or treat “pre-cavities” by remineralizing weakened areas of your enamel before a cavity develops:

1. Sugar-free gum

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals has been shown in clinical trials to help remineralize enamel. Gum containing xylitol has been researched extensively for its ability to stimulate saliva flow, raise the pH of plaque, and reduce S. mutans, but long-term studies are needed.

Sugar-free gum containing a compound called casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) has been shown to reduce S. mutans even more than xylitol-containing chewing gum. You can find this type of gum in stores.

Shop online for sugar-free gun.

2. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important to help absorb calcium and phosphate from the food you eat. Studies show an inverse relationship between eating foods high in vitamin D and calcium, like yogurt, and cavities in young children. You can get vitamin D from dairy products, like milk and yogurt. You can also get vitamin D from the sun.

More recent research has challenged how vitamin D can affect dental health.

Shop online for vitamin D supplements.

3. Brush with fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride plays an important role in preventing cavities and remineralizing enamel. Extensive research has been done to show that regularly brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste prevents cavities.

Most studies have been conducted either in children or adolescents, so more research is needed in adults and the elderly.

Shop online for fluoride toothpaste.

4. Cut out sugary foods

This is the cavity remedy that no one likes to hear — stop eating so much sugar. The World Health Organization says that eating sugar is the most important risk factor for cavities. They recommend reducing your sugar intake to less than 10 percent of your total caloric intake for the day.

If you’re going to eat sugar, try not to snack on sugary foods throughout the day. Once the sugar is gone, your enamel has a chance to remineralize. But if you are constantly eating sugar, your teeth don’t get the chance to remineralize.

5. Oil pulling

Oil pulling is an ancient practice that involves swishing around an oil, like sesame or coconut, in your mouth for about 20 minutes, then spitting it out. Claims that oil pulling “removes toxins” from the body aren’t backed up by evidence. But a small, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial showed that oil pulling with sesame oil reduces plaque, gingivitis, and the number of bacteria in the mouth just as effectively as chlorhexidine mouthwash. Larger studies are needed to confirm these effects.

Shop online for coconut oil.

6. Licorice root

Extracts from the Chinese licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza uralensis) can combat the bacteria responsible for dental cavities, according to at least one study.

One researcher has taken this to the next level and created a licorice lollipop to help fight tooth decay. Pilot studies using licorice extract in a lollipop showed they were effective in significantly reducing S. mutans in the mouth and preventing cavities. Larger and more long-term studies are needed.

Shop online for licorice root tea.

Seeing a dentist

Many dental problems, even deep cavities, develop without any pain or other symptoms. Regular dental checkups are the best way to catch a cavity before it gets worse. Early diagnosis means easier treatment.

Treatment at the dentist for a cavity may include:

Fluoride treatments: Professional fluoride treatments contain more fluoride than toothpaste and mouth rinses you can buy at a store. If stronger fluoride is needed daily, your dentist may give you a prescription.
Fillings: Fillings are the main treatment when a cavity has progressed beyond the enamel.
Crowns: A crowns is a custom-fitted covering or “cap” that is placed over the tooth to treat extensive decay.
Root canals: When tooth decay reaches the inner material of your tooth (pulp), a root canal may be necessary.
Tooth extractions: This is the removal of a severely decayed tooth.

The bottom line

Vitamin D, oil pulling, licorice lollipops, chewing gum, and other home remedies won’t get rid of existing cavities on their own. But these methods may keep cavities from getting bigger and prevent new ones from coming. At best, they can help remineralize softened or weakened areas of your enamels before a cavity can develop.

The earlier a cavity is detected, the easier it will be for your dentist to repair it, so be sure to visit your dentist regularly.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Asokan S, et al. (2009). Effect of oil pulling on plaque induced gingivitis: a randomized, controlled, triple-blind study.http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2009;volume=20;issue=1;spage=47;epage=51;aulast=Asokan
Emamieh S, et al. (2015). The effect of two types chewing gum containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate and xylitol on salivary Streptococcus mutans. DOI:http://doi.org/10.4103/0972-0707.157240
Gafner S, et al. (2011). Isoflavonoids and coumarins from Glycyrrhiza uralensis: antibacterial activity against oral pathogens and conversion of isoflavans into isoflavan-quinones during purification. DOI:http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/np2004775
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Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014). Cavities/tooth decay: prevention.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/basics/prevention/con-20030076
Moynihan P. (2016). Sugars and dental caries: evidence for setting a recommended threshold for intake.http://advances.nutrition.org/content/7/1/149.full
Shen P, et al. (2001). Remineralization of enamel subsurface lesions by sugar-free chewing gum containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345010800120801
Srinivasan M, et al. (2014). High-fluoride toothpaste: a multicenter randomized controlled trial in adults. DOI:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cdoe.12090/full
Tanaka K, et al. (2010). Intake of dairy products and the prevalence of dental caries in young children. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2010.04.009
Where can I find Recaldent? (n.d.).http://www.recaldent.com/c_where_find_recal.asp

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Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Jacquelyn Cafasso — Updated on October 18, 2023

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