The go
od news? Cavities are preventable. The bad news? Unfortunately, most kids (40%) still get them by the time they turn eleven. This makes tooth decay the most common disease of childhood.
Sugary Drinks Cause Cavities
Most of the snacks kids tend to love most are loaded with sugar. Sugar in solid form is a problem too. If children are snacking on these sugary treats all day, then their saliva won't get a chance to neutralize the pH of their mouths by washing the sugar away. Leaving their teeth constantly bathed in acid, leading to decay and enamel erosion.
We recommend trading sugary snacks for vegetables and sliced fruits, especially if your child needs the energy boost from a snack between meals.
Sugary Snacks!
Sugar in solid form is a problem too. Most of the snacks kids tend to love most are loaded with sugar. If your child is snacking on these sugary treats all day, the pH in their mouths won't neutralize because the saliva won't get a chance to wash the sugar away. That means your child's teeth are constantly bathed in acid, which leads to enamel erosion and decay.
Snack time is the perfect time to trade your sugary snacks for sliced fruits and veggies. A healthy snack that also fills you up is a win-win!
Bottle Rot Prevention
We aren't here to insist that you never let your child touch a drop of fruit juice or soda again, but we recommend limiting access to drinks other than water to mealtimes. A pacifier will be better for their teeth than continuous access to fruit juice. Using a bottle of water after the baby is six months old or a sippy cup of water for toddlers is safe. (Another benefit of drinking water is that you won't get stains on your carpet, clothing, or furniture!)
With infants, it's essential to clean out the milk residue after every meal. As soon as their baby teeth appear, You can do this by brushing their baby teeth with only a tiny smear of toothpaste and a soft toothbrush.
What If My Child Already Has Tooth Decay?
If your child is already showing signs of tooth decay, call our office to schedule an appointment. We can then deal with the cavities, assess how advanced the decay is, and come up with a dental plan with you to prevent further problems.
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