Although baby teeth are only temporary, they still require proper dental care. Prevent cavities in children by encouraging them to eat a healthy diet, practice good oral hygiene, and regularly visit a dentist.
Without a doubt, children are born with a sweet tooth, and with sugar overload comes the possibility of developing cavities in teeth. Let Advanced Dental Group give you tips to help your child prevent cavities.
What Are Cavities?
How to explain cavities to a child? Use easy dental analogies. Try using an apple as an example.
Show your child a bruised apple and compare the brown layer to cavities. Explain that underneath that layer are healthy teeth. Doing so gives your child an idea about the impact of cavities in baby teeth.
The following may cause a kid’s teeth cavity:
- Bacteria buildup
- Too much consumption of foods rich in sugars, starches, and carbohydrates
- Poor hygiene practices
- Less water intake
- Decreased saliva production and/or dry mouth
What Are the Signs of Cavities?
Children are more susceptible to cavities. Knowing the signs of cavities lurking in your children’s teeth helps you mitigate the problem immediately.
Here are the signs that your child’s teeth have cavities:
1. White Spots
White spots may appear on your child’s teeth as a sign of early decay or mild cavities. At this point, the condition is still reversible. Treat immediately to prevent sensitivity and further tooth decay.
2. Light Brown Discoloration
A dental cavity can range in color. It usually starts as white spots and eventually darkens as the cavity grows in depth and width.
3. Tooth Darkening
More severe cases of kids’ cavities can have a black color. These require immediate treatment.
4. Hole in Tooth
Without dental intervention, the cavities in your children’s teeth will get worse. There will be tiny holes in the tooth enamel caused by bacteria producing acid from sugar. Your children may experience the following symptoms:
- Swelling
- Pain
- Fever
- Difficulty chewing
- Pus
How Do You Prevent Cavities In Children’s Teeth?
As a parent or guardian, preventing cavities in children is possible by encouraging them to practice good dental hygiene.
Teach Good Brushing and Flossing Habits
Teaching children the proper brushing and flossing techniques is the first step to keeping their teeth and mouth healthy and preventing children’s rotting teeth. Make brushing an exciting and enjoyable task by doing the following:
1. Create a routine.
Emphasize the importance of good dental habits at a young age. Tell your child that brushing is something that we should do daily. Come up with a schedule in the morning and at night. Establishing it as a routine sends the message that regularly brushing our teeth is a responsibility.
2. Make tooth brushing more exciting.
Prevent cavities in children by making the brushing experience enjoyable.
Play their favorite music. Choose a song that’s two minutes long, so they know when the task will begin and end. Consider buying a musical toothbrush to make it more entertaining.
3. Play pretend.
Teach your children how to brush their teeth on their own by doing imaginative plays. These allow your children to practice further their brushing techniques. After helping them brush their teeth, instruct them to do the same to their favorite stuffed toy or doll.
4. Let your child take over.
Children will eventually want to brush their teeth on their own. When that time comes, let them demonstrate to you how they do it. Doing so allows you to see the missed areas and correct improper brushing techniques.
5. Use the right amount of toothpaste.
Too much toothpaste may overwhelm your kids. Be the one to put the toothpaste on their toothbrush and remind them not to swallow it. It also helps to use flavored toothpaste with good fluoride content.
6. Make adjustments.
If your child finds it difficult to brush their teeth for whatever reason, make adjustments to your routine such as:
- Use lukewarm water if the water is too cold.
- Change the toothpaste flavor.
- Opt for an electric toothbrush for kids.
Serve Teeth-friendly Foods
Combat your kids’ cavities by serving them something healthy, even during snack times. These treats are perfect alternatives to their usual snacks.
1. Festive Pancake
Who doesn’t love pancakes? You can either make a heart-shaped pancake using a mold or add food coloring to make the batter red. You can top it off with a glass of strawberry milk and cut-out fruits on the side.
2. Dark Chocolate
Opt for dark chocolate if your children are craving something sweet. Hard and chewy candies are not good for their teeth. Be creative by buying different chocolate shapes rather than the usual chocolate bars. Remind your children to brush their teeth after eating sweets. This will help prevent the development of mild cavities.
3. Fruits
Fruits are one of the healthier snack alternatives for children. You can buy a cantaloupe and use different cookie cutter shapes to cut the fruit creatively. You can also do this with watermelon and honeydew for variation.
4. Sandwiches
Prepare sandwiches in different shapes for snacks. Make them healthier using wheat or oat bread with veggies filling.
Beat Tooth Decay for Kids With Advanced Dental Group
With a licensed pediatric dentist, prevent cavities in children.
Advanced Dental Group connects individuals looking for seasoned dentists in Clearwater, FL. We are your partner in promoting and ensuring children’s dental health. With us, looking for a dentist you can trust is easy.
Prevent children’s rotting teeth by contacting us. We will have you connected to a dentist near your area right away!
