Why Does My Child Keep Getting Cavities?

As a parent, one of your responsibilities is teaching your child good oral hygiene habits. Yet, it’s frustrating to hear that your child’s dental health is at risk despite your efforts. Regular dental check-ups help to catch child cavities at an early stage. Understanding the causes of dental caries in children helps you take prompt action to prevent tooth decay.

Understanding Cavities: What They Are and How They Form

People commonly refer to dental caries as cavities. Tooth enamel is surprisingly strong. But, exposure to sugar, acids and bacteria that naturally occur in the mouth can break it down. Most dental caries in children develop slowly. This is why regular pediatric dental care is important for halting its progress.

Common Causes of Recurring Cavities in Children

Many of the common causes of tooth decay in children are preventable. Taking a look at why your child might be getting new cavities helps you plan to stop them.

Dietary Habits

Children frequently ask for snacks, and you want your child to eat a healthy diet. But, it’s possible that snacking is contributing to tooth decay. The connection between sugar and cavities is clear. Frequently snacking on starchy or sugary foods can lead to more cavities. Opting for low-sugar snacks such as veggie sticks is an option that satisfies hunger without causing cavities.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Regular brushing and flossing helps to remove acids and food debris from your child’s teeth. Neglecting your child’s oral hygiene can lead to more cavities. If your child balks at brushing their teeth, we have solutions.

Our dentists can provide you with dental hygiene tips for children that make cavity prevention easy. Kid-friendly toothpaste in fun flavors might be an option. Or, your child might like brushing to their favorite song. We can also show you the best techniques for flossing your young child’s teeth until they can do it alone.

Insufficient Fluoride

Fluoride treatment for kids helps to restore the enamel. This important mineral occurs naturally in many foods. Public water supplies also tend to contain fluoride. While this helps, it isn’t always enough to prevent tooth decay.

Dentists provide fluoride treatments in their offices that help tooth enamel to replenish itself. Your child can also use fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses to strengthen their developing teeth.

Genetic and Environmental Factors That Lead to Tooth decay

The relationship between genetics and dental health is also important for parents to know about. Genetics influences enamel strength, which impacts which children are more likely to deal with recurring cavities. If you have people in your family with large amounts of cavities, then it’s possible your child will, too.

A child’s environment also plays a role in the development of extensive tooth decay. Children who live in homes with high levels of bacteria might have more damage done to their teeth. The same is also true of children with limited access to dental care. Pediatric dentist visits help set the stage for a lifetime of better oral health.

Prevention: Take These Steps to Reduce Cavities

The best way to stop child cavities is to attack tooth decay with multiple approaches. Trying these ideas will help you get a better report during your child’s next dental visit.

Ensure Your Child Uses Proper Brushing and Flossing Techniques

Children have a tendency to rush through their oral hygiene routine. Ideally, your child should brush their teeth for at least two minutes. To help them, you can set a time or have them brush to a song. Your child might also benefit from using special flossers that make it easier to reach between their teeth.

If you aren’t sure how well your child is brushing, our dentist can check your child’s dental health. Having your child’s dentist observe how they brush and floss could reveal areas to improve their technique. This is especially beneficial for children with braces or other orthodontic appliances.

Manage Your Child’s Diet to Reduce Sugar Intake

Children tend to love sweets, and many snacks that seem healthy might not be good for teeth. Gummy fruit snacks are convenient to stash in your day bag. Many types even contain vitamin C which is good for gum health. Unfortunately, they are also high in sugar and stick to teeth.

Searching for tooth-friendly snacks can help halt cavities. Cheese sticks are low in sugar. They also contain calcium that helps build stronger tooth enamel. Crunchy vegetables, seeds and nuts are better than potato chips when your child wants something to bite into.

Fruit is also a perfectly acceptable snack. Just be aware that certain types have more sugar and acid than others. If your child enjoys a sweet, juicy orange, give them a glass of water to help rinse away the acids.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups for Your Child

Regular dental checkups help to establish strong relationships between children and their dentist. Children should start dental visits when they get their first tooth. Those who don’t have a tooth appearing by their first birthday should go to the dentist then.

If your child hasn’t been to the dentist before, then you can get them ready using a few fun strategies. Reading stories about the dentist can help your child feel confident when they come to our office.

These early dental visits are quick and simple. Our dentist performs a visual exam of their baby teeth to check for cavities. In some cases, x-rays might be necessary to check for tooth decay. If there are concerns about your child’s dental health, then you can discuss them at the appointment.

Most children need annual dental checkups. Some may need to see the dentist more often for cleanings and treatments. Your child’s dentist will help you find the right schedule to use for maintaining their oral health.

Ask About Sealants and Fluoride Treatments for Cavity Prevention

Dental sealants for kids fill in the tiny grooves and pits that exist on teeth. If your child hasn’t had sealants placed on their back molars, then ask if it’s time. This simple, painless procedure can help stop recurring cavities.

Children may also need in-office or at-home fluoride treatments. Finding out if your child needs special toothpaste or a mouth rinse to use at home can renew their dental enamel. Fluoride treatments are easy for children to use. But, you may need to supervise the amount and length of time you use them at home.

In-office treatments usually involve using trays or a mouth rinse to deliver the fluoride to the enamel. Children often enjoy choosing their preferred flavor for this effective cavity-prevention treatment.

Understand the Important Role of Pediatric Dental Visits

The belief that baby teeth need less care than adult ones is outdated. Taking your child for regular dental visits helps them to feel comfortable sitting in the dental chair. Dentists treat dental caries in children to prevent deeper damage that can impact their adult teeth.

Since baby teeth serve as placeholders for adult teeth, it’s important to prevent premature tooth loss. Regular dental visits help to detect tiny cavities that respond best to treatment. Dentists also enjoy using fun strategies to help children learn how to brush and floss their pearly whites for a brighter smile.

Checkups aren’t the only reason to bring your child to the dentist. Professional cleanings help to remove the plaque and tartar that gets left behind. Our dentists use special tools to fit children’s mouths. We also take a gentle approach to make teeth cleanings fun. Seeing a bright, white smile in the mirror motivates children to take care of their teeth.

Conclusion

Children get cavities for different reasons that include genetics, a sugary diet and lack of proper oral hygiene. Talking to a dentist is the best way to find out what is causing your child’s tooth decay. Once you identify the root cause of the frequent cavities, your child’s dentist can recommend strategies to halt the decay.

The good news is that you don’t have to sit around worrying about your child’s oral health. Reach out to our dental office today to schedule your child’s first appointment. Together, we’ll find out the cause of those recurring cavities. Then, we’ll set your child with an oral health care plan that keeps their smile healthy and bright!