As parents, you probably already know that it is important to start teaching your children the benefits of a healthy dental health routine as early in their life as possible. Being a good example and helping your kids learn how to care for their teeth, even when they are just toddlers is crucial to creating good habits for later in life. However, even if you are doing a great job with teaching your child good dental health routines, it is possible that they will end up with a cavity. This isn’t the end of the world, though it may seem like it at the time. If your child has a cavity, or you want to know more about how kids get cavities, here’s some handy information.
How do Cavities Form?
This process is the same for everyone, whether you are 3 or 93. Cavities are caused by the buildup of plaque and bacteria on the surface of the tooth. Bacteria creates an acid that can eat away at the surface of the tooth. As the acid progresses, the damage to the tooth becomes a small hole or cavity. Cavities, when they are just beginning, are hard to know they are there. However, the bigger and deeper they become, your child might notice that hot or cold foods, or foods that are really sweet hurt their tooth. This is a good sign that a cavity has formed. For most children, cavities form at the gum line, between the teeth or in the groove of their molars. These are the places that are the most difficult to brush, and where food is most likely to get stuck.
How We Fix Tooth Decay in Children
Fixing cavities or other tooth decay in kids is just like repairing a cavity in an adult or older child. We will begin the process by numbing the area with a local anesthetic. This medicine will block the nerves in and around the tooth from feeling pain. Once numb, we use tools to remove the damaged part of the tooth. Then we fill the tooth using a resin filler that will match the color of your child’s tooth and give a strong, new surface for the tooth. Unfortunately, if tooth decay is not caught in time, we may have to resort to more substantial repairs like crowns.
Prevention is the Best Measure
The good news for parents is that tooth decay is preventable. If you have started early with teaching a good routine of at home care, that is half the battle. The other half is diet. We all know that sugary foods can cause cavities. So it’s important that you limit how much access your child has to candy, sodas and even fruit juice. These high sugar foods increase the sugar in your child’s mouth and that is what bacteria loves the most. It’s also a good practice to make sure that once your child has brushed their teeth before bed, they don’t have anything to eat or drink other than water. Food or even sugars from drinks like juice or milk, can cause decay when they sit for long periods in the mouth.
My Child May Have Tooth Decay – I Need More Information!
Tooth decay in children can have lasting impacts on their long-term mouth health, so starting them on good habits today is the best way to avoid cavities and other oral health issues. If your child does get a cavity, don’t worry, the experts at HPS Advanced Dental Care, have a soft touch and plenty of experience in repairing tooth decay in all ages. If you are looking for a caring and holistic dentist in Shelby Township, HPS Advanced Dental is the perfect place for you and your family. Call us today at (248) 652-0024 to learn more about our practice or to schedule a dental appointment.
