Every child is at risk for tooth decay, but some may face increased risk of cavities due to genetic, nutritional and other factors. Our dentists at Smile Town North Delta describe how to tell if your child may fall into this category.
How Cavities Happen
Every parent wishes for their child to have a white, healthy smile - and does their best to teach their child good habits to care for their oral health long-term.
That said, cavities, tooth decay and other dental issues can happen to any child. Since enamel (a tooth's hard outer layer) is much thinner and softer on baby teeth, this leaves them at greater risk for decay.
Baby teeth are critical to a child's long-term development - not only do they help your child speak and eat, they also help guide adult (permanent) teeth into position, so it's important to care for your child's teeth even before their first teeth start to emerge.
The good news: tooth decay is largely preventable in everyone, including children.
Which factors can leave my child at risk for cavities?
Many common factors can contribute to cavities in children, including:
- Genetics
- Enamel erosion
- Insufficient fluoride
- Eating or drinking too many sugary foods, such as candy and juices
- Improper brushing techniques and poor dental hygiene
- Damage to teeth, such as chips or cracks
Cavity Prevention at Smile Town in North Delta
While some causes of tooth sensitivity can be addressed proactively, such as maintaining good dental hygiene and excellent brushing habits, others cannot.
However, tooth sensitivity can be treated with the following methods:
- Make regular brushing part of your child's daily oral hygiene routine
- Restorative treatments including dental fillings or crowns for cavities, chips or cracks
- Use products such as high-quality toothpaste to address sensitivity and the right toothbrush for your child's mouth
- See your dentist regularly for professional dental checkups and have fluoride treatments to help protect and strengthen teeth