Part of caring for your child is providing excellent healthcare for them, and that includes dental care. You want to ensure that your child grows up with a full set of healthy teeth. While your little one will eventually lose their baby teeth, the habits — like brushing and flossing — that they form at this age will influence them later in life. You want to start your child off on the right foot, but that can be tough, since children’s teeth are often more susceptible to cavities. In today’s blog, we explore why that’s true, and what you can do about it as a parent.
It Takes Time for Children to Learn How to Brush Their Teeth
One of the main reasons that children’s teeth can become more susceptible to cavities is that children are the ones brushing their teeth. Even diligent tooth brushers still need time to develop the skill. In your child’s younger years, it’s important to help them learn how best to brush and floss their teeth. Difficult-to-reach teeth, like molars, become even more difficult to reach when you have limited dexterity. Making sure that your child understands how to brush their teeth (your dentist can help with this) is important, but so is ensuring that they’re brushing at least twice a day, and flossing regularly.
Your Child’s Diet Can Influence Their Susceptibility to Cavities
Learning how to brush their teeth will take your child some time. In the interim, you can help by managing your child’s diet. While the role that genetics play in the health of your teeth is out of your hands, this is a factor you can control. Foods that are high in sugar, especially sticky candies, can increase your child’s risk for cavities. The bacteria in your child’s mouth use sugar to grow and survive. As the bacteria feed on sugar, they create acid, which wears down the tooth enamel and creates a cavity. Eliminating easy food sources for the bacteria is one way to reduce cavity risk.
Explore Options Like Fluoride Rinse and Dental Sealants
Your dentist also has preventive treatment options to help your child avoid cavities. Fluoride rinse can strengthen the tooth enamel, and fortify it against the harm that bacteria cause. Dental sealants are another great option for children. Sealants are thin layers of biocompatible acrylic that your dentist can paint onto the surfaces of difficult to reach teeth, like the molars, to create a seal that keeps bacteria out. The sealants will last for a few years, so they aren’t a permanent alteration for your child’s teeth.
Find Children’s Dental Care at Cedar Dental
Setting your child up for success starts with regularly attending dentist appointments. The team at Cedar Dental creates a comfortable, relaxed environment for patients of all ages. Your child can receive comprehensive, preventive care at Cedar. To schedule an appointment for your child, contact Cedar Dental in Cedar Rapids, IA by calling 319-364-7108.
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