What Causes Your Child’s Cavities?
Kids can develop tooth decay at an early age. In fact, the term “baby bottle tooth decay” refers to cavities forming as young as age one. But what causes a cavity, and how will our team treat them to save your child’s smile? In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about how we address and prevent childhood cavities!
The Causes of Your Child’s Cavity
How does a cavity happen? The outside of every tooth is coated in a protective layer of enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. This protects the sensitive inner structure from bacteria. But! If poor oral hygiene and a diet high in sugar creates plaque buildup, this can erode and weaken the enamel, until bacteria can reach the inner dentin. Injury to the teeth or teeth grinding could also expose the dentin to bacteria. Cavities then form, and they will grow and spread with time. Eventually, your child may complain about an aching tooth. When this happens, bring them in for a visit right away!
Treatment With a Filling
Even though baby teeth fall out on their own eventually, this could happen months or even years after the decay forms. Which means ignoring the issue could allow the decay to become an infection, causing serious pain and even allowing infection to reach other teeth or move into the jawbone. But our team can bring relief in one visit with a filling!
We will examine your child’s smile and if we find decay, we will decide if they need a filling or possibly a crown. If a filling is the best option, we will numb the tooth, remove decay, and clean the tooth. We then apply the composite resin filling, which is a more lifelike option than metal, and one that is safe for all ages. We apply this in multiple layers and then sculpt the tooth as we cure the composite resin under a light. The last step is to polish the tooth!
Prevention at Home and in Our Office
Steps can be taken to help reduce your child’s risk of tooth decay! At home, be sure to brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. Kids also need to floss in the evening before they brush that second time, try to cut back on the amount of sugar and starch in their diets too. In our office, we could offer fluoride treatments or even dental sealants to help lower the risk of cavities!
PDC Kids Provides Solutions for Cavities
Our team can treat a cavity in little smiles to stop discomfort and prevent tooth loss. To find out more about cavity treatments, call Pediatric Dental Care at Casa Linda in Dallas, TX, today at (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Children's Dental Services