How to prevent your kids from having cavities?

Having a healthy mouth and teeth is an essential piece in the quality of life and the general health of every person.

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in children in the world that involves the breakdown and decay of the hard tissues of the teeth. Therefore, fearing that your kids might have dental caries and cavities is a justified concern nowadays.

Although the 21st century has introduced multiple advances in technology to treat this condition successfully, every person should always aim to prevent caries. Remember that, even though the enamel and dentin are the hardest tissues in the body, they can’t heal on their own or grow back. So, prevention is the best way to fight cavities. You can read more about preventative dentistry at Elwood Family Dentists, they are experts at helping young patients learn the importance of proper dental care,  or continuing reading, and find out how you can prevent your toddlers from getting cavities.

Now, if you are looking for a healthier lifestyle, it is crucial to know how to avoid these cavities and the pain, discomfort, and problems that come with them.

First of all, you have to know that the mouth is a complex and delicate system with several factors in constant balance. Therefore, the development of caries lesions is the result of multiple elements influencing the rupture in the perfect equilibrium in the oral cavity.

However, three main factors influence dental caries: the diet, the hygiene, and other diseases that might be present in the little ones.

Let’s look at them one by one.

 

The Diet

It has been demonstrated that what we eat plays an essential role in the development of caries and other oral diseases.

Eating food with high sugar content and carbohydrates, especially when it’s frequent, is a fundamental element in the decay of teeth.

The experts recommend that parents should avoid giving refined sugar to children under two years of age, in any presentation. Instead, try giving them treats or rewards with fruits and yogurt while keeping breastfeeding. In older kids, encourage the consumption of less candy, and, if it’s inevitable, promote the brushing after it or propose the use of dental sealant.

 

The Oral Hygiene

If the incorrect diet is the negative side of the formula, the hygiene and the protective elements are the positive ones.

One of the most important things to consider is that oral hygiene in children starts with the first tooth’s appearance. As soon as the first tooth shows up in your baby’s mouth, you need to start taking care of it.

The kids’ oral hygiene depends on the parents, and starting at a young age helps the kids identify the brushing as something healthy and fun. Finally, brush their teeth at least twice a day with a soft brush designed for children and the correct amount of toothpaste, and if you are not sure, consult with the kid’s dental specialty.

The dentist can also help in this part by using dental sealant and fluoride gel or varnish and also evaluate your kids every six months.

 

Other Diseases

Finally, the presence of other conditions like diabetes, heart diseases, disabilities (among other conditions), and the intake of some medications can alter the balance in the mouth, increasing the risk of caries.

Furthermore, they can change the amount of saliva, the equilibrium of the mouth’s microorganisms, and the body’s response to different elements. In that regard, in the presence of any other disease, you’ll have to take special care of your kid’s oral hygiene and diet, in a tight relationship with your pediatrician.

Remember that prevention is the best way to treat and that keeping them healthy and safe is possible with proper care.