Helping Your Child’s Teeth Protect Themselves

Posted March 31, 2020

Despite the fact that common dental concerns, like tooth decay, are so common, natural teeth actually have plenty of resources for defending themselves against harmful oral bacteria. For children, protecting their teeth and maintaining their good oral health is especially reliant on these resources. The strongest and most important defense your child’s teeth have is the enamel that surrounds and protects the main structures of their crowns. When it’s healthy, this enamel can repel almost any harmful oral bacteria and prevent many of the issues that could impact your child’s smile if it grows weak.

What tooth enamel is meant for

Tooth enamel is an essential part of a healthy tooth at any age. Yet, as children’s teeth are growing and developing, the enamel around their primary and permanent teeth also helps safeguard their development. Tooth enamel is a highly mineralized substance, made from unique, super-resilient strands of minerals such as calcium. The way your child’s teeth form these mineral strands makes healthy enamel the strongest substance their bodies produce, and more than adequate for protecting their teeth against things like oral bacteria and friction from biting and chewing. Because it’s the first line of defense, keeping your child’s tooth enamel strong and healthy is a key to successfully protecting their smiles.

Why keeping it healthy matters

The main portion of any tooth is its crown, which protrudes from the gums and fills out your child’s smile. Teeth crowns are also responsible for biting and chewing, and they’re the main targets for oral bacteria to form plaque and cling to. The point of a good dental hygiene routine is to help protect your child’s tooth enamel from this buildup, and from the harmful substances that some bacteria produce specifically to weaken tooth enamel. Once oral bacteria compromise your child’s tooth enamel, the tooth can be exposed to bacterial infection (also known as tooth decay) and more.

How to strengthen your child’s tooth enamel

Generally, the greatest threat to your child’s tooth enamel is the excessive buildup of oral bacteria on its surface. By teaching your child to brush twice and floss at least once every day, you can give them the tools they need to limit this buildup every day. Also, drinking milk and eating more dairy products that are rich in calcium will help provide your child the minerals and nutrients they need to ensure their tooth enamel remains healthy.

Learn how to improve your child’s oral health

Healthy tooth enamel is your child’s main defense against things like cavity-causing oral bacteria and damage from biting and chewing. To learn more about to strengthen your child’s tooth enamel, 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.