More Ways to Help Kids Avoid Tooth Decay

Posted February 18, 2020

After teaching your child how to brush and floss their teeth every day, it can seem like the fate of their smiles is in their own hands now. That’s partly true, but several parts of your child’s oral health care are still solely your responsibility as a parent. For example, they still rely on you to take them to their routine dental checkups and cleanings, to provide foods and beverages that are healthier for their teeth, and to guide them in keeping their smiles healthy by preventing things like tooth decay.

It all starts with good hygiene

Teaching your child the principles of good hygiene is the first step to helping them avoid tooth decay development. That’s because oral bacteria are the main cause of tooth decay, and they can accumulate on your child’s teeth consistently every day. The most important step to preventing decay is to control this buildup every day, which requires effectively brushing them twice a day and flossing at least once. Even after your child is old enough to do so on their own, you should monitor their hygiene routines by performing yours side by side.

Getting help from the dentist

In addition to daily hygiene at home, the next (but equally important) step is sticking to a regular schedule of preventive checkups and cleanings. Your child can only do so much to keep their teeth clean at home, and regular professional cleanings are essential to making sure plaque and tartar don’t remain for too long. We can also recommend more direct preventive measures to boost your child’s oral health and ability to prevent tooth decay, such as:

Fluoride treatments

Fluoride treatments can strengthen your child’s tooth enamel – the protect layer around their teeth – when it’s been weakened by excess oral bacteria. The fluoride can bond to the mineral strands that make up enamel, making it stronger and more resilient to prevent bacteria from infecting your child’s main tooth structure.

Dental sealants

While fluoride can strengthen your child’s tooth enamel, we can further protect your child’s teeth by recommending biocompatible dental sealants. These are made from a thin, clear acrylic that we can apply to your child’s teeth, and they create a barrier that stops oral bacteria and food particles from ever reaching the tooth enamel in that area.

Protect your child’s smile from tooth decay

The oral bacteria that cause tooth decay are ever-present, which makes protecting your child’s smile from it an everyday effort. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX today at 214-321-4880. We proudly serve patients who live around Casa Linda and all surrounding Dallas communities.