While every child is at risk for tooth decay, some may face increased risk of cavities due to nutritional, genetic and other factors. Our Langley dentists explain how to tell if your child may fall into this category.
How do cavities happen?
Every parent wants their child to have a healthy, white smile - and does their best to teach their child good habits to care for their oral health long-term.
But cavities, tooth decay and other dental issues can happen to any child. The enamel (the tooth's hard outer layer) is much softer and thinner on baby teeth, putting them at greater risk of decay.
Baby teeth are key 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?
There are many common contributing factors and causes for cavities in children, including:
- Eating or drinking sugary foods, candy and juices
- Tooth damage such as cracks or chips
- Genetic factors
- Insufficient fluoride
- Enamel erosion
- Improper brushing techniques and poor dental hygiene
Cavity Prevention at Smile Town in Langley
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