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6 Ways to Prevent Cavities in Children

Cavities are common in children, with as many as 8% of children aged 5 to 11 living with at least one decayed tooth, according to the surveys. In addition to being painful, untreated cavities, including baby teeth, can lead to more severe issues. Though baby teeth fall out eventually, their health can impact the health of your child’s permanent teeth, driving oral problems and boosting the risk of other oral illnesses. 

How To Prevent Cavities In Kids?

Follow Proper Brushing & Flossing Habits

Your child should brush their teeth 2-3 times per day for at least 2 minutes with a soft-bristled brush. The best way to maintain better oral hygiene is by brushing once in the morning and once at night. Until your child is 6 years old or capable enough to tie their shoes, you’ll have to brush their teeth for them, for proper cleaning. In addition, flossing is also essential to help stop cavities. It can remove food residue and plaque that is unreachable with brushing. Floss your child’s teeth once every day until they can start flossing on their own.

Watch Their Diet

Sugary drinks & foods, like soda or juice, are extremely bad for your child’s teeth—oral bacteria feasts on the sugary residue encouraging acid growth. More acid means more cavities! Simple carbohydrates, like starches from fries, can also boost bacterial growth and lead to oral cavities. When possible, help your child to avoid sugary food and drinks, and encourage a fiber-rich diet with lots of complex carbohydrates. 

Come to Honest Teeth for Six-Month Checkups

Our pediatric dentist in West Jordan will ensure that your child’s mouth is healthy. During routine oral checkups, our dental staff will clean your child’s teeth which eliminates plaque and tartar build-up from hard-to-reach areas of their mouth. We’ll also check for symptoms of cavities and address any issues before they become a major issue.

Consider Fluoride Treatment

At its minor stage, a pediatric dentist can easily reverse tooth decay. This stage of tooth decay is called a “soft spot” and occurs when the tooth enamel begins to weaken but hasn’t fully formed a cavity yet. A fluoride treatment is usually given after an oral exam. It consists of a fluoride-rich gel painted onto the child’s teeth. Fluoride stimulates weakened teeth to remineralize and get stronger, reversing minor tooth decay and contain a cavity from developing.

Think About Dental Sealants 

If your child is prone to the cavity, pediatric dentists suggest many ways to maintain your kid’s oral health & one of them is dental sealants to help protect their teeth. Dental sealants consist of a unique plastic resin that is painted onto your child’s rear molars, then hardened using a UV light. After it gets hardened, the resin forms a defensive barrier that stops acid and bacteria from coming into direct contact with the treated teeth, preventing cavity formation for the next 10 years.

Pediatric Dentist In West Jordan

If your child has a cavity, at our dental office in West Jordan we can treat the cavity before it becomes severe, which is why we need to see your child at least twice per year. Cavities may or may not hurt, but to optimize your child’s oral health, contact us to meet us at our Clubhouse Pediatric Dentistry.