Cavities, also called dental caries, are one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. They develop when bacteria in dental plaque metabolize fermentable carbohydrates and produce acids that lower the pH at the tooth surface. Repeated exposure to these acids causes minerals to leave the enamel, a process called demineralization. When protective factors such as saliva and fluoride or other remineralizing agents are able to restore those minerals, early lesions may be arrested or remineralized.
Your mouth has natural protective systems working for you every day. Saliva helps neutralize acids, clear food particles, and provide minerals needed for remineralization. Supporting these natural processes is an important part of maintaining a healthy smile.
Start With Your Daily Oral Hygiene
One of the simplest things you can do is establish a consistent brushing and flossing routine. The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and cleaning between the teeth daily (American Dental Association [ADA], n.d.).
After brushing, spit out the toothpaste rather than immediately rinsing with water. This allows the active ingredients in toothpaste to remain in contact with the teeth for longer. If you eat or drink acidic foods and beverages, allowing some time for saliva to help restore the mouth’s pH before brushing can also be helpful because enamel can temporarily become more vulnerable after acid exposure (Lussi & Carvalho, 2014).
And don’t forget the rest of your mouth! Gently cleaning the tongue and other oral surfaces can help reduce accumulated debris and bacterial biofilm.
What About Salt Water and Oil Pulling?
Salt-water rinses have traditionally been used as a simple oral-rinsing practice, particularly for soothing irritated tissues.
Oil pulling has also become popular in natural oral-care communities. Some studies suggest that oil pulling may reduce certain measures of plaque or gingival inflammation.
Don’t Forget Nutrition
Your teeth are living structures surrounded by living tissues, and nutrition plays an important role in overall oral health. Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and other nutrients contribute to normal mineral metabolism and the development and maintenance of teeth and bones. Vitamin D, in particular, plays an important role in calcium and phosphorus homeostasis (Holick, 2007).
If you suspect a nutritional deficiency, talk with your healthcare provider about whether blood testing or supplementation is appropriate for you.
Support a Healthy Oral Environment
The mouth is home to a complex community of microorganisms known as the oral microbiome. A healthy oral environment isn’t about eliminating every bacterium - it is about maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Frequent consumption of fermentable sugars and refined carbohydrates can favor acid-producing bacteria and increase the risk of caries (Takahashi & Nyvad, 2011).
Hydration is important, too. Saliva is one of your body’s natural defenses against tooth decay, so maintaining adequate hydration and supporting healthy saliva flow can be beneficial.
Mouth breathing can contribute to oral dryness, and reduced salivary flow is associated with increased caries risk (Villa et al., 2014).
And Remember: Prevention Is Powerful
There is no single food, supplement, toothpaste, rinse, or wellness practice that can guarantee freedom from cavities. Oral health is the result of many factors working together: daily hygiene, nutrition, saliva, microbial balance… and a great toothpaste!
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This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. MamaMadeCo toothpaste is not a medical product and should not be considered a substitute for professional dental care. Individual oral health needs vary. Consult a qualified dental or healthcare professional with questions regarding fluoride use or oral health decisions.
References
American Dental Association. (n.d.). Home oral care. https://www.ada.org/resources/
Holick, M. F. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency. The New England Journal of Medicine, 357(3), 266–281. https://doi.org/10.1056/
Lussi, A., & Carvalho, T. S. (2014). Erosive tooth wear: A multifactorial condition of growing concern and increasing knowledge. Monographs in Oral Science, 25, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1159/
Pitts, N. B., Zero, D. T., Marsh, P. D., Ekstrand, K., Weintraub, J. A., Ramos-Gomez, F., Tagami, J., Twetman, S., Tsakos, G., & Ismail, A. (2017). Dental caries. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 3, 17030. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.
Schwendicke, F., Frencken, J. E., Bjørndal, L., Maltz, M., Manton, D. J., Ricketts, D., Aránguiz, V., Carta, G., & Fontana, M. (2016). Managing carious lesions: Consensus recommendations on carious tissue removal. Advances in Dental Research, 28(2), 58–67. https://doi.org/10.1177/
Sezgin, Y., Bulut, G., & Çelik, B. (2022). The effect of oil pulling on oral health: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12255.
Takahashi, N., & Nyvad, B. (2011). The role of bacteria in the caries process: Ecological perspectives. Journal of Dental Research, 90(3), 294–303. https://doi.org/10.1177/
Villa, A., Connell, C. L., & Abati, S. (2014). Diagnosis and management of xerostomia and hyposalivation. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 10, 45–51. https://doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.
