Can a small hole in a tooth heal? How to treat a hole in a tooth? What are the causes? How do heal it naturally before going to the dentist? How to know if the hole in the tooth is a cavity? Can you relieve fast a toothache due to a hole in the tooth? And especially how to avoid it?
I. Causes of a Hole in a Tooth
The causes of a hole in a tooth are not numerous. If your tooth is damaged, then it is weakened.
A bacterial infection is usually the cause, more precisely dental caries.
The consumption of sugars causes a spread of bacteria in the mouth. If oral hygiene is not optimal, tooth decay sets in.
When tooth decay develops, the tooth enamel is affected and a hole can form in the affected tooth.
II. Can a Small Hole in a Tooth Heal at the Dentist?
The dentist treats tooth decay with a hole by removing the bacteria first. The hole in the tooth is cleaned and disinfected so that the hollow tooth is clean.
Once this is done, the dentist fills the gap with a dental bandage. Made of zinc oxide, the dental dressing is a temporary dressing to prevent the tooth gap from becoming infected.
It is usually removed a few days later so that the filling can be made.
III. Can a Small Hole in a Tooth Heal Naturally Before Going to the Dentist?
When you notice that you have a hole in a tooth, you can do something about it yourself before you go to the dentist.
There are dental dressings available in big box stores, which can be put on without professional assistance.
To make a homemade dental dressing, put 3 drops of eugenol on a flat surface and gradually add zinc oxide.
When the mixture is similar to putty, you can insert it into the hole in your tooth.
IV. How Do You Know if that Hole in the Tooth is a Cavity?
In reality, a hole in a tooth is usually the result of tooth decay.
But if you want to know for sure, you should visit your dentist. Your dentist’s examination will help you make a clearer diagnosis.
Some cavities require x-rays to be detected.
V. Can a Hole in a Tooth Cause Toothache?
Toothache or pulpitis is severe pain in the tooth that can prevent you from sleeping. A hole in a tooth can cause toothache.
If you don’t treat your tooth decay, including filling the hole in your tooth, it can spread to the pulp. When the cavity reaches the pulp, it is called toothache.
VI. How to Relieve Toothache Due to a Hole in the Tooth?
Toothache can be relieved by taking painkillers. These are available without a prescription. You can also try a dental bandage or a dental plaster sold in supermarkets.
These have antibacterial and pain-relieving properties.
Cloves placed directly in the hole can also provide relief.
VII. Can Tooth Decay Be Avoided?
There are ways to limit the risk of tooth decay. By limiting your sugar intake and brushing your teeth at least twice a day (morning and evening), you can avoid cavities.
But there are people who, without having excellent dental hygiene, have never had dental cavities. Likewise, some people are meticulous with their dental hygiene and yet have cavities.
It is difficult to know what exactly causes this difference.
VIII. Dental Bandage or Dental Plaster?
Whether it is a dental dressing or a dental plaster, it is always a temporary amalgam that is used to fill the hole in a tooth.
The dental dressing is made by a dentist while waiting for the filling. But you can also make one yourself or pay for a dental cast in specialized stores.
IX. How Long Can I Keep a Dental Bandage?
The dental bandage is installed as a temporary measure. Over time, it will eventually break down and you risk reinfection.
You should keep a dental bandage between 2 weeks and 3 months; it depends on the bandage and your dentist.
X. Other Questions About How to Treat a Hole in a Tooth
1. Can I Repair a Broken Tooth Myself?
It is not possible to repair a broken tooth yourself. Only a professional can do it.
However, while waiting for your medical appointment, you can keep the remains of your tooth. In some cases, it is possible to restore a broken tooth.
Keep the piece of tooth in milk or saliva to keep it in good condition.
2. How Long Does a Toothache Last?
The duration of a toothache is difficult to estimate. Some last no more than a few minutes, while others can last for several hours.
Generally, the duration of a toothache is between 30 seconds and 4 hours. But sometimes it can last several days if it’s not treated.
3. How Do I Fill a Hole in the Gum?
A tooth can be filled by placing a crown or a filling in the hole. Placing an inlay is also an option.
In the case of an inlay, a prosthesis is made following the impression of the hole. The inlay is used to consolidate what may be left of the tooth.
There are other options for filling the hole in the gum.
One is the bridge, which is attached to the remaining teeth on either side of the hole and replaces missing teeth.
4. How to Stop the Evolution of a Cavity?
Once the diagnosis of tooth decay has been made, it is urgent to stop the infection. First, it is important to improve your oral hygiene. Turn to fluoride treatment. Brush your teeth twice a day and don’t forget to floss.
Choose soft foods and avoid sugar. Drink plenty of water to avoid dry mouth.
Use saltwater mouthwash.
5. How to Treat Tooth Enamel Loss?
It is not possible to regenerate tooth enamel. This substance is not alive.
In case of enamel loss, your dentist has several solutions, depending on the degree of enamel loss. If your teeth are too badly affected, the best option is to cover the teeth with a crown.
The crown will protect the tooth enamel and stop erosion. To stop the loss of your enamel, think of dental hygiene because bacteria are the first responsible for the loss of enamel.
6. What Do You Call a Small Hole in a Tooth?
There is no generic name for a hole in a tooth. The dentist may tell you that you have a hollow tooth, but he or she may also tell you that you have tooth decay.
A hole in a tooth is a manifestation of advanced tooth decay.
7. How Do You Know if the Cavity Is Deep?
Cavities develop in stages. At first, you may not feel any pain. Then your teeth become sensitive to hot and cold and even biting.
When the cavity becomes painful, it has spread. If you have a toothache, it’s a sign that the infection has reached the pulp. The decay is at this rather advanced stage.
8. What Happens if a Toothache is not Treated?
When the pulp of the tooth is affected and the dentist has not been able to treat it, the pain may disappear. The pulp has then become necrotic.
The pulpitis has then spread; we speak of a periapical infection. In this case, the infection has migrated to the tissues surrounding the pulp.
It is an infection that is not only painful but also requires the extraction of the tooth. Because it is bacteria, doing nothing would cause damage to other organs of the human body.
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