Cavities in children is a widespread dental problem. One of the most important things parents can do is enforce good oral hygiene from birth and make sure their kids brush twice each day with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Parents should also be on the lookout for signs of cavities, such as bad breath, chipped teeth, or swollen gums.
How Cavities In Children Form
Cavities are holes in a tooth. It is believed that 90% of children have cavities in their baby teeth. Cavities can start forming in baby teeth even while your child is still a baby. If a child’s mouth is not cleaned after eating, the sugars in the food mix with plaque, the sticky substance made up of bacteria, which sits on their teeth, causing acid to form. The acid destroys the enamel, the hard outside layer of the tooth that protects it, and a cavity forms.
Signs And Symptoms Of Cavities In Children
Signs and symptoms of cavities in children can include:
- toothache
- pain when biting down
- sensitivity to hot or cold foods or drinks
- bad taste in the mouth
- change in the color of the teeth.
If you notice any of these signs and symptoms in your child, it’s important to take them to the dentist for a check-up.
Dental Treatments To Fix Cavities
In addition to these treatments, your child may need a filling. Fillings are used if the cavity is too large for sealants or fluoride varnish treatment to be effective. Filling material varies depending on which type of tooth is being treated and how deep the cavity goes. Composite fillings are made out of plastic and can be used to treat almost any type of cavity, including those that are close to the nerve. Amalgam fillings are made out of metal and can be used for molars or premolars with less available tooth structure. Composite fillings tend to last longer than amalgam fillings, although it depends on how well they are maintained throughout life.
Dental Treatments To Help Prevent Cavities In Children
A few different dental treatments can be used to help treat cavities in children. One treatment is fluoride varnish, which helps to strengthen the teeth and protect them from further decay. Another treatment is dental sealants. A thin coating is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where most cavities occur. Sealants help prevent food and bacteria from getting trapped in the crevices of the teeth and can help keep cavities from developing.
How Parents Can Help Prevent Cavities
There are a few ways to prevent cavities in your children. The most important way is to make sure that they brush their teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time and that they are not eating too many sugary snacks. This can be done by limiting the number of snacks they eat and by making sure you ask for a dentist appointment every six months.
If your child does not seem to be getting the message about brushing twice a day and eating healthy snacks, consider giving them an incentive to do it. There are many ways to do this, but it is most effective if you are creative about it. Your child might be more likely to brush their teeth if they have a small reward for doing so each time. A good way of making them want to go to the dentist’s office is by rewarding them with something fun, like stickers.
Contact Valencia Smiles Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry if you are still in need of a dental home for your children! Call 661-294-1800.
