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Concern about cavities is a justified one! After all, healthy teeth are a core part of health growing for children of all ages. Due to a variety of reasons, cavities are a common problem for children between the ages of 6- 14.\u00a0 But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t take steps to prevent dental cavities in their teeth!\u00a0 Walbridge Dental is here to offer some guidelines to help you keep your son or daughter cavity-free.<\/p>\n
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that your child have his first dental visit by the time he turns one year old.\u00a0While it may sound early, it\u2019s not! This visit offers a lot of value for a child, specifically with regards to their oral (and overall) development!<\/p>\n
Your child can sit on your lap, and we\u2019ll walk you through proper brushing and flossing techniques.\u00a0 We\u2019ll also give your child a gentle exam to ensure everything looks well inside his mouth.<\/p>\n
While most first dental visits are routine and primarily helpful to get you, as the parent, on board with techniques to prevent dental cavities in your children, we can also potentially catch issues early. Prevention is key in dental health \u2013 the earlier we catch a problem, the easier the solution will be!<\/p>\n
Cavities happen when food sits on the teeth after eating.\u00a0Food introduces bacteria to your mouth, or helps feed the bacteria that\u2019s already there. As bacteria consume energy, they release acid into the mouth which collects on the teeth.\u00a0Over time, this acid softens tooth enamel, creating a hole \u2013 or cavity \u2013 in the tooth.<\/p>\n
Here are a few things you can do to fight back against bacteria and prevent dental cavities for your child:<\/p>\n
You likely have heard of fluoride, whether in regards to water in your local area or maybe on bottles of mouthwash and tubes of toothpaste. But what exactly is it? Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel, providing teeth with a \u201cshield\u201d which helps keep cavities at bay.\u00a0It\u2019s completely natural and can be the difference between a child with few to no cavities versus a child who seems to be extremely cavity-prone!<\/p>\n
Many towns require tap water to be fluoridated, but if your family uses purified water, or your tap water is not fluoridated, you may want to ask for fluoride supplements.\u00a0 Your toothpaste may contain fluoride, too, but this is usually not enough to fully protect your child\u2019s teeth.\u00a0 Make sure you speak with your dentist before using fluoride supplements, to make sure it\u2019s the right decision for your child.<\/p>\n
Brushing at least twice a day is the most basic way to maintain good oral health. The gentle abrasion of a toothbrush removes bacteria and food particles that could directly or indirectly lead to cavities. When it comes to preventing dental cavities for children or adults, brushing is the #1 recommended way to keep your teeth happy and healthy!<\/p>\n
Kids should brush after eating foods containing sugar, or even after taking medication, as a lot of children\u2019s medications contain high amounts of sugar.\u00a0The less sugar stuck to the teeth after eating the better \u2013 it will cut back on the potential damage caused by bacteria in their mouth.<\/p>\n
Make sure your child is using the correct amount of toothpaste, and spit instead of swallowing. Fluoride is great for teeth, but not so great for our digestive systems! While a little bit of fluoride won\u2019t cause any harm, frequent swallowing of fluoridated substances may give them a tummy ache or other issues.<\/p>\n
You know brushing cleans the surfaces of your teeth, but it\u2019s important to note that a brush can only reach 60% of those surfaces! The sides of your child\u2019s teeth are just as susceptible to cavities, if not more so! Food trapped between teeth or plaque, which is bacteria that\u2019s had a long time to develop, can be a major source of cavities in children or adults.<\/p>\n
Routine flossing helps remove bacteria and plaque from between teeth.\u00a0Flossing should be done twice a day, and after meals. If your child struggles with the act of flossing, there are plenty of tools out there to help. Threaded flossers, single-use flossing picks and even water flossers may be the trick to getting them to floss regularly without fussing.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s very important that your child make regular trips to the dentist. This ensures that your child\u2019s teeth are developing properly, and also helps your dentist keep an eye on your child\u2019s oral health.\u00a0If your goal is to prevent dental cavities then this is one step that\u2019s going to make your life a lot easier.<\/p>\n
As a parent, you also want your child to understand the benefits of these visits. Dentists can be scary for children, especially as they hear rumors or myths from their friends about big drills or pulled teeth. The reality is their visit will always be a pleasant one here at Walbridge Dental. Plus, the better your child is about visiting the dentist, the less likely they are to need things like fillings or root canals!<\/p>\n
The right foods aren\u2019t just for growing big and strong, they also help keep your child\u2019s teeth cavity free! Help your child eat healthy by giving him fruits and veggies as snacks, and cutting back on sugar. The less sugar the better, but many chewy vegetables like celery can help clean the teeth by providing light friction during eating and supplementing saliva to wash away loose bacteria or food particles.<\/p>\n
It can be exhausting, but as a parent, your best bet to reduce sugar in their diet is to check food labels every time. Sugar is hidden in all kinds of foods, especially for children. Even if it\u2019s promoted as a healthy choice, you might be surprised at how much sugar is packed inside their favorite snack or drink!<\/p>\n
Secondly, if you display healthy eating habits, your child is more likely to follow your example. Keeping healthy options in the home for them (and you!) to eat will go a long way to preventing dental cavities.<\/p>\n
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If you have dental health concerns or are just looking for information, the professionals at Walbridge Dental provide complete family dental care to families in the Millbury community.\u00a0Contact us online<\/a><\/u>\u00a0to set up an appointment now or call us at\u00a0419-836-1033.<\/p>\n Connect on Social Media!<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/u>\u00a0|\u00a0Twitter<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Concern about cavities is a justified one! After all, healthy teeth are a core part of health growing for children of all ages. Due to a variety of reasons, cavities are a common problem for children between the ages of 6- 14.\u00a0 But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t take steps to prevent dental cavities in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2248,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[139],"tags":[193,198,204],"class_list":["post-1720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids-oral-health","tag-childrens-dentistry","tag-dental-care","tag-dental-cavities"],"yoast_head":"\n