Can caries heal by itself, without a dentist?

Caries can be inactivated if the bacteria cannot continue to work and thus cannot further destroy the tooth. If this is a small superficial caries, it can be left under observation. If it is a larger lesion, the tooth is porous and possibly perforated.

No endogenous substance is able to reverse this. Dentine can still be reproduced during life (this is called irritant dentine or tertiary dentine), which is formed in response to a lesion or destruction, i.e. in response to an irritation. However, dental enamel cannot be replicated. What has already been destroyed cannot, like the skin for example, heal on its own. To replace missing tooth structure, the dentist has to fill the hole.

Home remedy against caries

The best remedy against caries is to keep the oral environment neutral at all times. This is possible by giving the caries bacteria no chance to produce acid. This means: by a sugar-free diet, the bacteria have no food to produce acid.

The acid leads to the weakening of the tooth structure. This makes it even easier for the bacteria to attack. Consequently, acidic foods should be avoided in order to prevent direct damage to the enamel.

The complete renunciation of the above mentioned food is usually not possible. Nevertheless a balanced diet helps. A simple tip would be to drink water during the day instead of, for example, apple spritzer.

Caries is influenced by the time factor.If the teeth are constantly demineralized again by sugar and acid, there is no possibility of remineralization. After eating, it is beneficial to help saliva to reach a neutral environment. For example with products such as milk, water or special chewing gums, which tend to have a neutral pH value.

It is also important to keep small children away from sugar as long as possible. As an adult, you must also be careful not to put children’s spoons or soothers in your mouth yourself, as they can be infected with caries bacteria. Initial caries can be reduced by treating the areas with fluoride.

For young people, regular fluoridation in the form of toothpaste is recommended. In adults, local fluoridation is recommended in individual cases to strengthen the enamel there. Learn more about this under: Fluoridation of the teeth