Top Ways to Prevent Cavities in Children

Dental cavities and children are synonymous with each other. However, there is no reason for you as a parent to allow holes to develop in your child’s teeth. If your children develop healthy oral hygiene habits from the onset and receive expert guidance from you and the dentist nearby, you can comfortably help prevent cavities in their teeth.

We are confident you think our suggestions will encourage you to visit the dentist near you with your child to determine how to prevent cavities. While you are correct in your assumption, the advice is to ensure your child doesn’t endure sleepless nights and eating challenges because tooth decay doesn’t permit them to. In addition, visits to the dentist nearby help you save money on expensive treatments that children need when they develop cavities in their mouths.

This article provides information on the best ways to prevent cavities in children before they develop. We suggest you continue reading to avoid holes in your child’s tooth before they develop.

Dental Hygiene Habits in Children

You may think early dental hygiene habits among children are unnecessary because their primary teeth will fall off by six or seven. However, are you aware good dental care should begin even before your child’s first tooth appears? If you don’t, please realize that just because you don’t see any teeth, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any. During the second trimester of pregnancy, teeth form in the child’s mouth. At birth, your child has 20 primary teeth, with some having developed fully in the jaw.

Before the child develops their first tooth, you must clean their gums using a soft and damp washcloth to clear harmful bacteria. You must schedule an appointment with children’s dentistry in Pasadena, TX, the moment the child’s first tooth erupts and no later than their first birthday. The children’s dentist advises you to brush the child’s tooth with an infant toothbrush.

When your child’s teeth begin touching, you must start flossing between them. By age two, your child should learn to spit when brushing. Continue supervising your child’s brushing until they are eight because they will likely swallow toothpaste.

Are you aware babies can also develop tooth decay? Putting a baby to sleep with a bottle of milk or infant formula is harmful to the baby’s teeth. Children can develop baby bottle tooth decay making their front teeth discolored and leading to the formation of cavities. In severe cases, babies might need extractions.

Preventing Cavities in Children’s Teeth

Cavity formation begins when children have food debris left on their teeth without brushing. The bacteria in the mouth deposit acids on the tooth to soften enamel until a cavity forms. If you want to prevent cavities developing in children’s mouths, you help yourself by seeking help from the dentist in Pasadena who provides the following advice:

Oral Habits Started Early Are Best

You must teach your kids to brush at least twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, with fluoride toothpaste and floss regularly without exceptions.

Getting Sufficient Fluoride Helps

Using fluoride toothpaste undoubtedly helps strengthen children’s teeth, making it harder for the acids to penetrate the enamel. If you live in a town with fluoridated water, your child might receive the recommended levels of fluoride they need every day. However, if you don’t, you can ask the dentist to suggest fluoride supplements for your child. However, you must exercise caution when using fluoride supplements because too much can cause tooth discoloration. Therefore verify with your dentist before using any supplements for children.

Dietary Restrictions

Children favor sugary foods, juices, and candy that can erode tooth enamel and cause cavities. If your kids prefer these foods, you can have them rinse their mouth or brush after eating to wash away the sugars. If your kids have liquid-sweetened medicines, get them to brush their teeth.

As your child’s permanent teeth begin developing, the Pasadena dentist can help prevent cavities by applying dental sealants on their molars that help with most chewing. The protective layer of sealants helps prevent most dental cavities by creating a smoother surface on the molars to prevent food particles and bacteria from remaining trapped in them. However, the preventive measures are not a substitute for regular at-home care with brushing and flossing and visits to children’s dentistry for exams and cleanings.

If you want to learn how to prevent cavities on children’s teeth and also provide your child’s teeth with preventive measures, please schedule an appointment with Dental Land for the assistance required.