How to Prevent Cavities in Kids

Cavities are one of the most common dental health issues that affect children. When food particles are left on the teeth, they interact with the bacteria in the mouth to form acids that erode the enamel. Constant attacks on the tooth enamel cause a cavity to form. Dental cavities can affect children right from the time their first tooth erupts. The pediatric dentistry in Hamilton, ON, recommends good oral hygiene at home and by a dentist to help your child prevent cavities and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile even into adulthood.

Spotting a Cavity in Your Child’s Teeth

Detecting a cavity early will help you get your child the right care from a pediatric dentist near you before the symptoms become severe. Here are signs that indicate your child has a cavity.

• When you notice white or brown chalky spots on your kid’s tooth surface or dark spots around the tooth, a cavity is developing.
• The child complains of discomfort or tooth sensitivity when eating certain foods or all hot and cold foods and beverages.
• Once you notice holes, chips, or cracks in your child’s teeth, it shows that decay has set in, worn down the enamel, and weakened the tooth.
• Tooth pain that does not go away indicates a cavity that has already developed. A child experiencing tooth pain is inconsolable and even refuses to eat. Rush the child to an emergency pediatric dentist who will address the cause of pain and treat it.

Tips for Preventing Cavities in Children

1. Start Good Oral Habits Early

Good oral habits should start even before your child starts teething. Ensure that your baby swallows all the milk before sleeping so that oral bacteria do not feed on it to make it acidic as it affects the gums. The pediatric dentistry in Hamilton, ON, advises parents to run a clean damp washcloth over their child’s gums to clear away harmful bacteria.

Use an infant toothbrush, some water, and grain-sized fluoride toothpaste to clean those new baby teeth as the sugars from milk or formula can cause the tiny teeth to decay and form cavities.

Floss your child’s teeth as soon as two teeth touch and as they grow older, teach them to do it themselves. Supervise your children as they clean their teeth until about age eight so that you can demonstrate the proper way to brush and floss. Help them understand the importance of routine dental care.

2. Watch What Your Kids Consume

There is a connection between a child’s diet and oral health. Do not allow your child to consume overly sugary or starchy foods all the time as they increase the level of acid-eroding plaque in the mouth.

Avoid sugary beverages and sticky foods like honey or caramel that are hard to clean as they contribute to the formation of acids that corrode the dental enamel.

Swap these foods and beverages with healthier items such as fruits and vegetables. Encourage the kids to take plenty of water each day as the water flushes out bacteria from the mouth and prevents acid from building up on the teeth and causing cavities.

Teach your kids not to share foods or drinks which come into contact with the mouth as oral bacteria can spread from one child to the other easily.

3. Prioritize Routine Dental Visits

As soon as the child turns one or six months from when the first tooth erupts, a visit to the dentist is required. When the child is young, the parents will receive dental health education on taking care of their child’s oral health.

As the child grows, the dentist will monitor their baby teeth to ensure that they do not fall off before the permanent teeth are ready to erupt. Once the child turns two, routine visits to the pediatric dentist near you every six months are paramount.

The dentist’s dental checkups and cleanings will ensure that cavities do not form or are detected early and treated. The dentist will also offer preventive dental services such as dental sealants and fluoride treatments to ensure that your child’s teeth are protected from cavities.

Fluoride strengthens the tooth enamel while sealants keep bacteria from settling in the grooves and fissures of the back teeth, which are harder to clean.

At Rymal Family Dental, we make your child’s oral health our priority. Our state-of-the-art facilities, modern equipment, and kid-friendly environment ensure that your child has a positive dental experience.