How to Reduce Your Child’s Cavities
It’s no secret that most kids love sweets and sugar, and even moderate consumption of candy, cookies, and soft drinks can cause cavities without proper dental hygiene. That’s because children are more susceptible to cavities than adults and don’t always brush and floss as thoroughly as they should. Despite this, there are still many ways kids can enjoy the occasional treat without resulting in an unexpected trip to the dentist. Our League City pediatric dentist has some suggestions to reduce your child’s cavities and establish life-long routines that will ensure healthy teeth.
Our League City Pediatric Dentist Explains Cavities
A cavity forms when bacteria eats away at the tooth’s surface, leading to decay. It usually presents as a gray or brown spot on the tooth and must be treated by our League City family dentist. Sometimes cavities form in between teeth, which can be difficult to see without xray technology, which is why dental checkups with our League City dentist are so important. If a cavity is left untreated, it will continue to grow until it reaches the inner layers of the teeth. When this occurs, more invasive treatment is needed, such as a root canal, to prevent infection or tooth loss.
How to Reduce Cavities According to Our League City Dentist
There are some important steps you can take at home to prevent cavities from forming on your child’s teeth:
Brush and Floss Regularly
Kids, especially younger children, need reminders and supervision when brushing and flossing their teeth. It’s common for kids to brush too hard, miss spots, or rush the process. Our League City family dentist insists that everyone brush and floss their teeth everyday for at least two minutes (30 seconds for each the top right, top left, bottom right, and bottom left quadrants). If your child is especially prone to cavities, it may be necessary to brush after every meal as well.
Moderate Access to Sugary Food and Drink
The occasional sweet treat is acceptable for children, especially on special occasions like birthdays and holidays, but these foods should be limited as much as possible. Sugar eats away at our tooth’s enamel and causes cavities that require a special trip to our League City pediatric dentist in order to remove. It’s best to limit candy, soda, and other high-sugar foods and always brush and floss your child’s teeth when they’re finished.
Maintain Regular Check Ups with Our League City Family Dentist
Given the prevalence of sugary treats they’ll see this Easter, it’s the perfect time of year to ensure your child’s teeth are healthy and identify any cavities as early as possible. We recommend your child receive a League City dental cleaning every six months, which will help maintain overall dental health by removing plaque and spotting cavities before they grow larger, leading to more significant problems.
Our League City Pediatric Dentist Keeps Teeth Healthy
If you suspect your child has a cavity or simply needs a dental check up, call our League City Pediatric dentist today. We’ll schedule your appointment to provide quality, compassionate care as soon as possible in order to keep your child’s teeth healthy and bright.
