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Congratulations on a great dental visit, riffdex!

No, the Bleach protocol cannot heal an existing cavity, but because it kills the bacteria that is eating away at the enamel and pulp of the tooth it can prevent the cavity from getting any worse after it got started. It still needs to be cleaned out of dead material, under cut, and then filled with a repair material, either amalgam or something that matches the color of the tooth if it is visible.

Yes, regular use of the bleach can prevent future cavities, but so can just regular brushing. Anything that disturbs a build up of bacteria in one place will prevent carries by simply moving the nasty bugs away from where they are doing their nasty things. The bleach is better because it just doesn’t evict them, it kills them. The bleach also helps by dissolving small patches of plaque under which carries bacteria can hide and work away at the enamel and finally break through and eat away at the pulp, digging hidden cavities. No plaques, no hiding places.

Dentists are an unusual breed of professional. They want their patients NOT to need them, and work hard to accomplish that!

Thanks for the response. I’m scheduled to get my cavity taken care of tomorrow morning. I won’t be having another cavity ever again because I am very serious about my dental health and will be for the rest of my life (: the bleach protocol has given me the tool to effectively take care of my mouth and feeling like I can accomplish this without breaking the bank.

I was amazed because when I first started your routine (which was o course when I first started flossing as well), my gums were bleeding like crazy everytime I flossed. They also really hurt to floss. I still have a bit of pain when I floss but I didn’t really notice that the bleeding stopped. So when the dentist remarked how healthy my gums were (and she said “wow, your gums aren’t bleeding at all, that’s very unusual for my patients!”) I remembered how bad it was a mere few weeks ago.

To follow up on the staining, after my cleaning (as expected) the brown staining is completely gone. My teeth look so refreshed - much whiter than they were before. Would you say it is okay to use any of the over the counter whitening products (such as 5 minute whitening system - https://www.walmart.com/ip/Plus-White-5-Minute-Premier-Speed-Teeth-Whitening-Gel-2-oz/23788101 or alternative)? Or should I be able to maintain perfectly white teeth with a cleaning every 6 months and my routine?

Also, I gotta ask, and I think I know what answer you’ll give me but... This guy at the gym was telling me Mercury fillings are problematic. He recommended Mercury free dentistry . Any validity to his concerns? Guy was, admittedly, a bit of a nut.