Home remedies for tooth hole

A hole in a tooth is usually a cavity or a broken area, and home care can reduce irritation but cannot rebuild missing enamel or dentin.

Dental caries begins when acids from plaque dissolve minerals from enamel and can progress into dentin and the pulp. A visible opening may also result from a fractured tooth or lost filling, so the treatment depends on an examination and sometimes an X-ray.

Brush with fluoride toothpaste, clean around the opening, rinse gently after food, and choose softer foods while arranging care. Do not fill the hole with glue, aspirin, alcohol, or household material; a dentist may remove decay and place a filling, or may recommend pulp treatment, a crown, or extraction when more tissue is involved.

Seek prompt care for pain, swelling, fever, a bad taste, a sharp edge, or food repeatedly packing into the opening. Facial swelling, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing needs urgent assessment.

Ask whether the opening is decay, a fracture, or a failed filling. Ask how deep it is, whether the pulp is affected, and which restoration will preserve the remaining tooth.