Tooth Decay in Children Can Be Prevented
Having tooth decay in children can be a real problem, but it is something that can be prevented. By maintaining good oral hygiene, you can avoid decay and help prevent a child from needing a root canal or other treatment for decayed teeth.
Treatments for decayed part of a tooth
Fortunately, tooth decay is one of the most preventable diseases for kids. Brushing and flossing your child’s teeth twice a day and drinking fluoride-rich beverages are two good ways to prevent cavities from forming.
Tooth decay is caused by the buildup of plaque on the teeth. This sticky substance is made up of bacteria and food particles. These particles break down into acids that eat away at the tooth’s enamel. These acids also leach minerals from the tooth.
In some cases, the plaque can harden into tartar, which makes removal harder. Your dentist may recommend fluoride treatments to stop the decay before it gets out of hand. The treatment may be applied in a gel or varnish form.
Other methods of tooth decay treatment include placing a cap or crown, using a filling, or having a root canal. This is a procedure that your pediatric dentist in Falls Church might suggest if the decay has reached the inner parts of the tooth.
The best tooth decay prevention plan is to visit your dentist for regular checkups. Your pediatric dental specialist can identify the early stages of the disease, and prescribe the right treatments. This will help your child avoid losing a tooth.
The most common tooth decay treatment is a filling. A filling is a tooth-colored resin or metal used to cover a damaged area of a tooth. Your dentist will remove the decayed area and replace it with the filling. This is especially important if the decayed part of the tooth is close to the pulp, or the center of the tooth.
Some children may need a root canal. This is a specialized procedure that will require your dentist to drill through the decayed part of the tooth, clean it out, and fill the space with a rubber-like substance.
Preventing decay by maintaining good oral health habits
Keeping good oral health habits is essential to preventing tooth decay in children. This is particularly true of children younger than two years of age.
The main cause of tooth decay is the buildup of plaque on teeth. The plaque forms when bacteria in the mouth produce acid. This acid eats away the surface of the tooth and eventually results in the formation of a cavity.
To prevent cavities, the American Dental Association recommends eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water. This is important because saliva is necessary to wash food and drink particles away from the teeth.
A high-sugar diet increases the likelihood of developing cavities. The best way to avoid this is to keep sugary snacks and drinks to a minimum.
It is also important to brush and floss your child’s teeth regularly. Use a fluoride-containing mouthwash to clean the teeth and gums.
Tooth decay can affect your child’s ability to eat and speak. It can also lead to infection. Therefore, it is vital that you take your child to the dentist as soon as possible.
In addition to good brushing and flossing, parents should provide their children with a healthy diet. This includes low-sugar foods and beverages, fiber-rich foods, and foods that are not starchy. The World Health Organization recommends a diet with less than ten percent sugar.
Sugar-sweetened beverages account for the largest source of added sugars in the typical U.S. diet. The American Dental Association suggests that children consume small amounts of these beverages, and the beverages should be consumed during meal times.
Children should also be discouraged from sipping on juices, sports drinks, and other acidic liquids for extended periods of time. This can increase the risk of causing acid damage.
Early childhood caries
Often referred to as dental caries, early childhood caries is a serious oral health concern. It affects the primary teeth of young children. It is caused by a combination of bacteria and dietary factors.
Various studies have shown that the prevalence of ECC varies greatly with a variety of factors. These include socioeconomic status, diet, and oral hygiene practices. However, the majority of cases are preventable.
A Cochrane review found that the risk of developing ECC is reduced by 15%. The study also reported that the development of ECC is linked to a range of dietary and lifestyle factors.
It is important to note that the development of tooth decay in very young children is particularly aggressive. The decay can occur in a single spot or can lead to the destruction of the entire tooth crown. It is therefore important to monitor your child’s oral health and visit your dentist regularly.
During the first 12-24 months of a child’s life, Streptococcus mutans (SM) are transmitted from the mother to the infant. These bacteria metabolize sugars into acids. The resulting acid destroys the tooth enamel. During this time, it is especially important for parents to provide their children with a healthy nutritional diet.
Among American Indian/Alaska Native children, the rate of dental caries is significantly higher than that of white non-Hispanic children. In fact, 72 percent of these children are untreated for tooth decay.
The presence of white spots on a child’s teeth is a symptom of early decay. This is because the enamel on a child’s primary teeth is thinner than the enamel on his or her permanent teeth. This makes them less resistant to caries development.
Baby bottle tooth decay
Despite the fact that baby bottle tooth decay is a very common ailment, there are ways to avoid this from happening to your child. One of the most important things that you can do is to make sure that your child has a healthy diet.
Secondly, you should make sure that your child has access to fluoride. Ideally, you should take your child to the dentist at least once a year. They can check the development of your child’s teeth and recommend techniques for preventing dental caries.
Babies are susceptible to tooth decay because the bacteria in their mouths thrive on sugar. The bacteria produce acids that attack the enamel of the teeth. If left untreated, this can lead to infection and crooked teeth.
If your child has already developed cavities, you may need to have them removed. Failure to do this can result in overcrowding of the permanent teeth, or it can cause more dental work to be required.
If you want to protect your child’s teeth, you can brush them with a child-sized toothbrush and a grain of rice-sized fluoride toothpaste. You should also wipe their gums after every feeding. If you find that they are not getting enough fluoride, you can give them a fluoride supplement.
Finally, you should schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist. You should do this as soon as your child’s first tooth starts to emerge. They can answer any questions you have, and they can help you create a treatment plan.
Your dentist will also be able to check your child’s fluoride levels and provide you with tips for preventing tooth decay. Aside from helping your child’s oral health, they can also help you save money on future dental expenses.
Pulpotomy procedure
During a pulpotomy procedure, the dentist will remove the infected pulp tissue from under the tooth’s crown. This ensures that the infection will not spread to the gums or other teeth. It can also prevent the nerve from dying.
The treatment is not painful, but it may cause slight bleeding. The dentist will monitor the child’s recovery for at least 30 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
A local anesthetic will numb the area before the procedure. You can expect the treatment to last around thirty to forty minutes.
The dental team will also provide you with post-treatment instructions. These include avoiding chewing on the side where the procedure was performed and eating soft foods. You can purchase over-the-counter pain medication to ease any discomfort.
A general anesthetic, or “laughing gas,” is also available. This will keep the child relaxed during the procedure. The child will likely have to stay with you at the office.
Your dentist will take X-rays to determine the extent of the problem. If the problem is extensive, your child’s tooth may need to be removed. The dentist will then refer your child to a specialist.
If the problem is minor, a root canal can be performed. A root canal involves drilling into the pulp chamber. This is the part of the tooth that contains the blood vessels and nerves.
The dentist may use antibiotics before the procedure. The procedure can be done in one visit, or it may be a standalone treatment. A crown can also be used to strengthen the tooth structure. This will minimize the risk of fractures.
After the procedure, your child will experience mild swelling and drowsiness. He or she will also be advised to avoid eating sticky foods.
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Harvard Health. (2015, November 17). Health A to Z. https://www.health.harvard.edu/health-a-to-z
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