The Real Dangers of Tooth Decay for Your Child

Posted July 8, 2020

The earliest stages of tooth decay don’t seem that serious at first. As your child’s tooth enamel grows weaker and weaker, their teeth might start to feel more sensitive, but the seriousness of the condition may not be apparent until the symptoms become much more severe. Because of this, children can often experience serious levels of decay by the time their dentist is able to address it. Today, we take a look at the real dangers of tooth decay in your child’s teeth, and why it’s important to take the condition seriously even when it seems like no big deal.

What it means for a tooth to decay

The term, decay, is an apt way to describe what happens to your child’s tooth when it becomes infected by harmful oral bacteria. The condition involves the systemic erosion of the tooth’s healthy, natural structure, and can lead to significant problems with your child’s long-term oral health if it isn’t addressed promptly. This process begins when enough oral bacteria attack your child’s tooth enamel to compromise it, leaving the main part of the tooth structure exposed. When oral bacteria reach this structure, the infection they cause leads to a cavity forming in your child’s tooth. As the condition progresses, the decay erodes more of your child’s tooth structure and the cavity grows increasingly larger.

When your child’s tooth becomes decayed

A tooth decaying is a similar process whether the tooth is an adult’s or a child’s. For children, however, the process may begin easier due to an inefficiency in their dental hygiene routines, or to excessive exposure of their teeth to sugary foods and beverages. This can make it easier for oral bacteria to compromise your child’s tooth enamel and eventually infect the tooth’s main structure. One of the earliest signs of excessive enamel erosion is growing sensitivity in your child’s tooth, which is why it’s important to always take your child’s toothache seriously.

Why treating the decay promptly matters

The best way to protect your child’s tooth from the erosion of tooth decay is to help them prevent the process from starting. This means teaching them to consistently brush and floss their teeth every day, visit the dentist on a regular basis (usually, at least once every six months), and to restrict how much sugar they consume each day, and how often. If your child does develop tooth decay, then it’s important to treat it as soon as possible to avoid more extensive erosion of your child’s natural tooth structure. This will also help minimize the extent of treatment your child needs to recover from the decay.

Protect your child’s teeth from decay

Tooth decay and cavities are so common that they sometimes seem like no big deal. However, if your child develops tooth decay, it’s important to take it seriously. 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.