Preventing A Cavity In Your Child’s Smile

Without regular care at home, and without visits to the dentist, your child’s smile could develop painful cavities, and with them, the risk of premature tooth loss and even dental misalignment! In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist explains how we help prevent cavities from occurring with our preventive treatment options.

The Causes of Tooth Decay in Children

Our child’s teeth are coated in enamel, the hardest substance in the entire human body. However, various factors could weaken or damage this layer, exposing sensitive inner tissue and allowing cavities to form. The enamel could be damaged if an injury causes a tooth to become chipped or cracked. However, oftentimes poor oral hygiene habits, combined with a diet high in sugar and starch, could lead to plaque buildup that demineralizes and weakens the outer enamel. As cavities grow in severity, the teeth begin to hurt. Over time, the teeth could even become infected and lost, the gaps altering how the permanent teeth erupt, leading to dental misalignment.

Prevention at Home

To help prevent cavities from home, you should make sure your child brushes his or her teeth in the morning and again before going to bed at night. Each session should last about two minutes, and a timer, song, or fun app could make the process more enjoyable. Toothpaste should contain fluoride too, but only use a rice-sized bit. You may need to assist your babies and toddlers, and monitor your older kids. As soon as teeth sit side-by-side, they need to begin flossing thoroughly every evening too. These actions help remove stray food particles before harmful bacteria can break them down and create plaque in the process. We also suggest offering healthier snack and beverage choices, cutting back on items high in sugar or starch.

Prevention at Our Office

We also want to see your kids for a checkup and cleaning every six months too. During these visits, we can use digital technology to catch the earliest stages of tooth decay, treating them before your child ever develops discomfort! We also clean the teeth, which means we remove the buildup that could weaken enamel and cause problems for oral health. In addition, we have preventive treatments, such as fluoride varnish and dental sealants, which helps strengthen little smiles and lower the risk of tooth decay.

If you have any questions about our treatment options and preventing tooth decay in little smiles, then contact our team today to learn more.

Your Cleveland, TX Dentist’s Office Offers Children’s Dentistry

Cleveland Family Dentistry in Cleveland, TX is ready to help your children continue to enjoy their best smiles. To learn more about how we address issues like cavities, then contact our office at (281) 592-1234 to schedule your appointment today.