Okay sooo… if you’re here reading this, there’s a good chance your tooth feels weird right now. Maybe it hurts a little when you bite something, or maybe you were just brushing and saw a little black dot on one of your molars
That, my friend, might just be a cavity. And no, ignoring it won’t make it go away (I tried. Didn’t work. lol).
So here’s what I found out after going down a full-on Google rabbit hole and also asking my cousin who’s a dental student (kinda counts as dentist, right??)
So, Wait… What Even Is a Cavity?
A cavity is basically a hole in your tooth. Yup, a literal hole.
It happens when plaque (that sticky stuff on your teeth) builds up from food, sugar, soda, not brushing properly etc. The bacteria in the plaque makes acid, and that acid starts eating away your tooth enamel. Over time, that turns into a small hole = cavity.
At first, you don’t really feel anything. But then, bam — toothache, sensitivity, or even food getting stuck in that hole. Not fun
How Do You Know If You Have One?
Here’s some signs you might have a cavity (even if it’s small):
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Toothache (it comes and goes at first)
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Sensitivity to cold / hot / sweet stuff
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A visible hole or dark spot on your tooth
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Pain when you chew
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Your tooth just feels… weird??
But tbh sometimes you don’t even feel anything till it gets kinda bad, which is annoying. Dentists usually catch it during cleanings — if you go. If you haven’t been in a while… maybe you should
Can You Fix a Cavity At Home?
Umm… short answer is no, not really
You can stop it from getting worse (maybe), but once the hole is there, it’s not gonna magically grow back.
Some people say stuff like, “oh you can reverse cavities with diet and oils and whatnot” — and maybe you can stop early decay (before the hole happens), but once there’s a real cavity, it’s dentist time.
What Happens If You Just… Don’t Treat It?
It gets worse. Like, a lot worse.
Here’s what can happen if you leave it alone:
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Bigger hole
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More pain
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Tooth infection
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Root canal (sounds scary and kinda is)
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You might even lose the tooth
Also, bad breath. Like, really bad. Cuz food gets stuck in the cavity and bacteria have a party in there. Ew.
What Does the Dentist Do for Cavities?
Okay so this is the part everyone hates lol.
Depending on how bad it is:
Filling – if it’s small, they clean out the bad part and fill it with some white/silver stuff
Crown – for bigger cavities that weakened the tooth
Root Canal – if the infection reaches the inside nerve (ouch)
Extraction – if the tooth is totally gone
But seriously, if you catch it early, it’s just a small filling. Takes like 30 mins and you’re done.
How to Avoid Cavities (for real this time)
Okay I know everyone says brush and floss but like… do it. Seriously.
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Brush twice a day, not just in the morning
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Floss — yes it’s annoying but just do it okay
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Cut back on sugary snacks & sodas (I know, it sucks)
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Use fluoride toothpaste (helps strengthen enamel)
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Go for checkups, even if you hate the dentist chair
Also: drinking water after eating sugary stuff helps rinse some of the junk off your teeth if you can’t brush right away.
My Personal Cavity Experience (in case you’re curious)
So like, I had my first real cavity at 24. I thought only kids got them but nooo. Mine was in the back molar. I didn’t even notice it until I bit into a cookie and suddenly felt this sharp pain. Went to the dentist (after putting it off for like 3 weeks), and yup, tiny cavity.
They gave me a filling and told me if I waited longer, I’d prob need a root canal. That scared me enough to start flossing lol. Still hate it tho
Final Thoughts (aka Stop Waiting, Just Go)
If you think you have a cavity, or you’ve been ignoring that one tooth that’s acting sus — please just go check it. The earlier you catch it, the easier (and cheaper) it is to fix. And don’t try to pick at it with random stuff, you’re just gonna hurt yourself more
Cavities suck, but fixing them isn’t that bad — and your future self will thank you when you’re still able to eat ice cream pain-free