Cavities in Kids: What You Need to Know About Prevention & Management

Cavities are one of the most common dental problems among children. While a small cavity is not a big deal, multiple or deep cavities can lead to discomfort, premature tooth loss, and other unwanted consequences. How can you keep your child’s smile healthy? This blog post provides helpful tips for preventing and managing cavities in kids.

How Do Cavities Form?

You might have heard that sugar causes cavities. While there is some truth to that, the reality is a bit more complicated. You see, cavities actually form when sugars and starches interact with bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria feed on sugar and produce an acidic biofilm known as plaque. Plaque can wear away at the tooth enamel and eventually cause small holes (cavities) to form.

Preventing Cavities

To reduce your child’s risk of cavities, you should:

• Monitor their oral hygiene routine. Most kids need supervision when they are brushing and flossing until they reach 7 – 8 years old or so. Until that point, you may have to keep an eye on them so you can be sure that they are cleaning their teeth as thoroughly as possible. You should also make sure that their toothpaste contains fluoride.
• Provide healthy snacks. Things like fruit snacks, sweetened yogurt, candies, and many popular kids’ beverages are high in sugar. Try to replace such items with healthier alternatives, like veggies, nuts, cheese, and water.
• Schedule regular dental checkups. Your child should have a professional checkup and cleaning twice a year. Their care team can give both of you personalized advice on how to keep cavities out of the picture.

Managing Existing Cavities

If you see a small hole in one of your child’s teeth or they start complaining about dental sensitivity, they might have a cavity. Talk to their dentist about how you can prevent it from worsening. They might suggest:

• A filling. A filling can protect a cavity and prevent it from becoming deeper and larger.
• A crown. For severe spots of decay, a crown might be needed to cover the entire tooth.
• Good habits. If a small cavity develops in a baby tooth, and that tooth is likely to fall out soon, a filling or crown might not be necessary. Your child’s dentist may simply advise you to keep the area clean, so the cavity does not lead to pain or infections before the tooth falls out on its own.

Cavities in kids are common, but they are not inevitable! Talk to your kid’s dentist about how you can keep their smile in good shape.

Meet the Practice

At Kids Dentist in Grayslake, our four pediatric dentists are proud to serve young smiles in our community. We also want to support parents as they seek to set up their kids for a lifetime of good oral health. If you have questions about cavities or how they should be addressed, we would be pleased to speak with you. Contact our office at 847-223-1400.