Can Your Tooth Repair Itself?

Posted on: July 3, 2018

Wondering if your damaged tooth will repair itself? If you damage other parts of your body it will begin to naturally heal itself, so why not your teeth? The fact that more and more people are looking for more natural ways to take care of themselves means that they are looking for alternative options when it comes to their overall health. This fact makes it so many dental practices are now offering their patients a number of more natural options when it comes to any dental work they may require.

While dentists are indeed offering their patients more natural alternatives when they are in need of dental care, many patients are also wondering if it is possible for a tooth to repair itself without the need to visit a dentist.

Damaged teeth

The term, "damaged teeth" describes a number of various ways the teeth can sustain trauma. While some cases will definitely require a visit to the dentist, other cases may heal on their own. Examples of damaged teeth include:

  • Broken, chipped, cracked or knocked out teeth
  • Eating or drinking stain-causing foods and drinks
  • Decayed teeth

According to Harvard Medical School, even though tooth damage might not occur right away, the jawbone and underlying dental tissue may absorb some of the force and sustain an injury.

Can a tooth repair itself?

It depends. It is possible for a tooth to repair itself if the damage is minimal. For example, if a tooth with a crack on the outer level and a minimal fracture line that does not cause pain may repair itself over time. The healing process is known as remineralization and refers to the minerals in our mouths. Saliva does quite a lot when it comes to keeping our mouths healthy and can help to rebuild up the enamel on the cracked tooth so it is strong and protective once again.

In order to help the remineralization process, it is necessary to make good food choices (reducing one’s sugar intake is highly recommended) and use a fluoride toothpaste.

Got questions about tooth repair?

If your tooth or teeth are in need of repair and you are wondering whether or not they will repair themselves, it is going to depend on the type of tooth damage present. While the high majority of tooth problems are going to need us to repair them, there is a possibility that your teeth can heal on their own.

If your teeth are getting worse, then it is highly unlikely that your teeth are going to heal by themselves. Thus, you are going to need to make a dentist appointment in order to address any and all of your oral health issues. We can help to do so in an efficient manner.

Request an appointment in our Fort Washington dentist office here: http://jamesesullivandds.com.


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