What should I do if my child keeps getting cavities? If you have young kids, they may already show some signs of having a cavity or two. This could be the very reason why you wanted to look for information on how to prevent cavities in children in the first place. It pays to learn about these things early on, so you will know what steps need to be taken immediately if your child starts experiencing tooth pain or other issues. Here is a quick guide on how best to protect your kids from developing cavities:
Take Them to the Dentist Twice a Year for Checkups and Cleanings
The best way to ensure healthy teeth is to get your child an early start on good oral hygiene habits! Dental cleanings are part of the routine maintenance needed to keep teeth strong and healthy. Children who have no cavities usually have parents who take them in for six-month checkups. You may want them to see a pediatric dentist instead of just a family dentist so that a checkup will include teeth cleaning.
They will receive a cleaning, fluoride treatments, and any necessary x-rays or exams during this time. The dentist can monitor their tooth development and track any problems until they are ready for treatment. If your child is in a school where dental exams are performed under general anesthesia, ask the doctor whether it is appropriate for your child to have a series of dental x-rays.
Discuss any concerns with your family dentist, especially if your child keeps getting cavities. Because children’s mouths and teeth are much smaller than adults, radiographs take only about one-third of the radiation dose needed to produce an equivalent image in adults. During good visits, dentists use lead aprons when taking radiographs to protect the thyroid from exposure to radiation from dental x-rays.
Too often, parents do not get regular dental checkups for themselves until there is a problem (such as bleeding gums or cavities). It may be easier to remember that regular visits are important; however, this is not true for children. And it turns out that regular dental exams are just as important to promote healthy teeth in kids! If there is concern about specific medical conditions or other risk factors, discuss this with your pediatrician and dentist to address their concerns before the exam.
Regular checkups can help your child’s pediatric dentist find problems with tooth decay, gum disease, or other oral health-related issues early before they become serious problems. It is also the best way to assess how your child’s mouth is developing over time. Suppose there are concerns about specific medical conditions or other risk factors. In that case, this information should be shared with both your pediatrician and dentist so their concerns can be addressed before any exam.
What should you do if your child keeps getting cavities? Routine visits to the pediatric dentist every six months allow parents to discuss proper dental care for their children’s teeth with professionals specializing in helping young patients grow into healthy adolescents who will have a lifetime of sound dental health.
Have Your Children Brush Their Teeth at Least Two Times Daily, Floss Once Daily, and Use Mouthwash Regularly
Have you been wondering why your child keeps getting cavities? Improving oral hygiene is perhaps the most important step parents can take to ensure their children maintain good oral health. Children should learn to brush and floss teeth as early as possible, preferably by three or four years.
Children should start learning how to use dental floss when they can tie their shoelaces properly. Would you please remind your child to floss once daily after he brushes his teeth? Although most children enjoy the taste of toothpaste, many are still too young for regular use when they are ready to learn how to brush their teeth. At this age, it is usually best to have them adopt good oral health habits by encouraging you to brush frequently with a fluoride-free or low-fluoride toothpaste that does not contain saccharin or other artificial sweeteners. Fluoride helps prevent cavities, but if ingested in large amounts, it can cause fluorosis, which may discolor permanent teeth.
If your child keeps getting cavities, teach them the ABCs of dental care: A is for Active. Please keep your child active, but remind him to brush after every meal and snack. Remember that children need lots of encouragement to stay active. You can help encourage an active lifestyle by getting your kids involved in sports activities at school or through community programs, participating in family outings whenever possible, planning fun activities together as a family, and setting up play dates with other families who share similar interests.
Please talk with your kids about the importance of staying physically fit, but do not push them beyond what they are willing to do. The more they can do on their own, the more likely they are to stick with it. Exercise helps your child by strengthening his muscles; making him stronger, healthier, and less sick; increasing his endurance; improving his balance; helping him manage stress; boosting his confidence; building up his self-esteem; reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression, high blood pressure, respiratory problems, back pain, sleep disorders (including sleep apnea), some forms of cancer; relieving symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); helping him achieve a healthy weight, and improving his social skills.
B is for Brushing. Remind kids that they should brush two times per day, preferably with fluoride toothpaste. Kids younger than six may want to use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste since it is difficult to control the amount of toothpaste used at this age. Your pediatric dentist can provide you with some guidelines on proper brushing techniques for children of different ages.
C is for choice. There are many choices in flavored fluoride tubes of toothpaste specifically made for kids! Let them choose which type they like best (although opting out of using any fluoride toothpaste can be detrimental to dental health). Mouth rinses are another great choice to help encourage kids to adopt healthy oral hygiene practices.
If your child keeps getting cavities, look for a kid-friendly fluoride cleaning solution containing sodium fluoride or stannous (tin) fluoride, which the AAPD recommends as safe and effective topical agents that can strengthen enamel against decay caused by acids.
Limit Sugary Foods to No More Than Three Times per Week
Another thing you should do if your child keeps getting cavities is limit the intake of sugary foods. The most common source of added sugars in our diets are sugar-sweetened beverages, but you should also consider limiting sweets, candy, pastries, cookies, ice cream, soda, and fruit drinks. Since sugary foods and drinks cause tooth decay, it is important to limit the amount of these types of foods that your child eats or drinks.
In general, any food or drink with a significant amount of sugar added is considered a source of excessive amounts of simple. Limit sugary foods to not more than three times per week. Cut back on high-fat foods such as French fries, potato chips, and other fried or baked goods made from high-fat ingredients. At least half of your child’s meals should be fruits and vegetables, healthy parts of a balanced diet.
An obese child increases risk factors for serious health conditions, including dental health problems having a child keeps getting like cavities. Limit sugary foods to not more than three times per week. Limit salty foods to no more than one teaspoon per meal. Excessive salt intake can cause high blood pressure, making it an important habit for children to break up early in life before developing this condition later on.
Adults who eat too much salt often ingest far more calories because they tend to crave extra salty snacks at the same time. Taking steps to teach kids about limiting salt intake may help them avoid the health problems associated with excessive sodium consumption as adults. Salt is not just found in store-bought chips, pretzels, crackers, and other packaged snacks; it is a hidden ingredient in many foods you wouldn’t suspect, such as slices of bread and cereals.
When snacking, whether at summer camps, home or school, aim for various nutrient-rich foods, especially if your child keeps getting cavities. Eat nutritious snacks regularly by including fresh fruit, cut vegetables, low-fat cheese cubes, baby carrots with hummus, hard-boiled eggs, soy yogurt cups, raisins, tangerines, grapefruit halves (eaten one at a time), or whole-wheat toast with peanut butter.
Limit Acidic Foods Like Citrus Fruits and Carbonated Drinks
They are not as bad as sugary foods but can still cause damage or pain to teeth over time. If your child keeps getting cavities, try to limit access to sugary drinks, including fruit juices, sports drinks, soda pop, etc., because they cause tooth decay even though they taste good! Encourage your child to drink ground water or milk instead of sweetened beverages between meals.
Juice is a source of calories and natural sugars, so it should be limited to a maximum of eight ounces a day for children older than seven. You can also try limiting your child’s juice intake to four ounces a day for children one to six years old. Always serve juice in a cup with a straw, which helps minimize staining on teeth. Since research has shown that fruit juices can contribute to early childhood cavities, pediatricians should advise parents that their children need only one glass of 100 percent fruit juice during an entire day.
Citrus fruits and other acidic foods should be limited because they weaken tooth enamel and cause pain. Acidic beverages such as soda also damage teeth, so it is a good idea to limit your child’s consumption of those as well. Always serve juice in a cup with a straw, which helps minimize staining on teeth.
Food advertising is everywhere these days, but just because your favorite Mexican cuisine has flashy packaging does not mean it is healthy for you or anyone else to eat! Instead of junk foods and snacks with no nutritional value, help kids learn how to read food labels. Limit sugary foods to three times per week more if your child keeps getting cavities. Teach kids about proper nutrition habits that may protect their oral health as adults.
Back away from junk foods and snacks with no nutritional value, and limit your child’s juice intake to four ounces a day for children 1-6 years old. Teaching kids about healthy nutrition habits will help them form the right dietary choices to protect their oral health as adults.
Your child’s bones are growing. They need plenty of calcium to develop well and have a greater chance of fracture prevention in the future.
Some good choices include dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt; dark green vegetables such as broccoli and kale; canned sines or salmon with bones that can be mashed with a fork; and calcium-fortified soy products.
Aim for various nutrient-rich foods, including dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt; dark green vegetables such as broccoli and kale; canned sines or salmon with bones that can be mashed with a fork; and calcium-fortified soy products.
Eat Right
In case your child keeps getting cavities, provide your child with a nutritious and well-balanced diet. A healthy, balanced diet is important for your child’s overall health, including her teeth! Be sure she gets enough Vitamin C in her daily meals because research shows that adequate intake of Vitamin C from natural foods helps maintain the structural integrity of the tooth enamel by protecting it from acid attack.
Encourage healthy eating habits during infancy that will continue into childhood, including limiting between-meal snacks, working with efficient local jarritos distributors for drinking water instead of juice, eating vegetables instead of sweets for snacks, eating fresh fruit instead of fruit juices, etcetera.
Offer positive reinforcement when they do a good job brushing their teeth! For example, let them pick out a new toothbrush or floss container or get them started on some fun at-home dental care activities to help train them to brush and floss their teeth properly. Many attractive children’s toothbrushes are available today and will encourage kids to want to use them regularly.
Some have animal themes, while others are covered with colorful little characters or Disney favorites. Many also include sonic technology, the sensation produced by special bristles that move quickly over the tooth surface. These are designed to make brushing more exciting for kids and, therefore, more effective by encouraging better brushing habits.
As a parent, especially if your child keeps getting cavities, it is vital to adopt good dental practices to promote good health in your kids. Ensure you work hand in hand with a cosmetic dentist to enhance your child’s smile if there need be. Dentists are a crucial aspect of our overall body health. Make an appointment with your orthodontist to ensure your child’s teeth are in the right dental health.
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