How Your Child Can Prevent Getting Cavities (Caries) - Hardy Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

Published by Hardy Admin at August 11, 2021

Avoiding Cavities in Kid’s Teeth

Know the importance of oral hygiene. Your kid’s oral care should start when their first teeth come out. Regular brushing using soft toothbrushes and rice-sized amounts of fluoride toothpaste. When your child turns three years old, use pea-sized toothpaste. Help your kids out when brushing their teeth until they are ready to do it on their own.

Get enough fluoride Fluoride protects teeth from damage and helps the enamel to heal itself. Children should drink plenty of water and brush with toothpaste that has fluoride in it. If your community doesn’t have fluoridated water, fluoride supplements may help.

Limit or avoid the consumption of sugary foods Fruit roll-ups, juices, candies, and other sugary foods and sugary drinks can erode the enamel which can cause severe tooth decay. Limit your kid’s consumption of these types of food or best avoid it. If they consume sugary snacks, make sure to rinse their mouth and brush their teeth immediately to wash away the sugar.

Provide your kids with healthy foods. Healthy eating patterns and food choices can help prevent tooth decay (dental caries). For example, cheese, yogurt, and milk are good for their teeth and are excellent after-meal snacks as they help clear the mouth of harmful sugars and protect against plaque.

Avoid prolonged contact with formula or breast milk. Do not let your child sleep with a baby bottle in their mouth as this can accumulate bacteria in the mouth and cause baby bottle tooth decay. Clean your child’s teeth immediately after a bottle or breastfeeding.

Visit your dental professional as early as you can. Children should have their first dental checkups within 6 months of the first baby teeth coming in, or about 12 months at the least. Dental professionals will be able to detect early signs of cavities and be treated immediately. They can also provide dental sealants at the earliest age possible. Dental sealants seal the chewing surfaces of the teeth and effectively protects against tooth decay.

Watch out for chalky teeth. Chalky teeth are creamy-brown or white spots usually seen at the molars or back of the teeth. The teeth can become chalky as it becomes weak and not hardening properly. Because the teeth are weak, they are prone to tooth sensitivity and at a higher risk for tooth decay. This condition affects both baby and adult molars and can be treated by your dental professional.

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