In this tough economy saving money is name of the game. So how about saving money on dental work? What? A new report from the folks at Lifehacker.com have done the work and now say you can reverse cavities. That's good news if you want to save money and avoid the dentist drill.

CAVITIES DEVELOP IN STAGES SO CATCH IT EARLY

Some cavities are big others are small. The study says they develop in five stages of "tooth decay." with the first exposure to things like sugar, starch and acids in bacteria. The last stage they say is the pain stage when a cavity has fully developed. That's NOT when you want to try and do the reversing because you'll be too late. Lifehacker says you need to address the problem in the first stage.

Guang Niu, Getty Images
Guang Niu, Getty Images
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HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU EVEN HAVE A PROBLEM?

So what's the first sign of tooth decay? The experts say look for discoloration. That happens when a tooth is experiencing mineral loss a sign of decay. It's a big warning sign.
So now what action do you take to prevent a cavity from forming?
Lifehacker officials say do all you can to help enamel repair itself. How is that done? Watching what you eat and brushing your teeth. Seems simple but it's true.

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THE REPORT SAYS KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLEAN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

They say you need to be using the minerals in your own saliva to do the repair work. But that saliva can't sit in your mouth after you've eaten sugary or starchy foods. So watch what you eat and always immediately brush your teeth after eating.
It's that simple to reverse a cavity but you need to act when you first suspect something.
Brushing your teeth more may be the key to your success.
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