Kids and Cavities

As a parent, you worry about how well your kids take care of their teeth. You spent the better part of their early childhood teaching them to brush and floss, and you come up with innovative ways to excite them about visiting the dentist every six months. If they follow the tenets of good hygiene that you so diligently taught them, then your kids should be no more likely to develop cavities than the average adult. However, considering that over 90% of adults in the United States have had at least one cavity in their permanent teeth, those odds aren’t necessarily comforting.

The assumption that kids are more susceptible to cavities is a popular one, likely because of their lack of willpower when it comes to candy and other sugar-rich treats. As one of the most notorious instigators of tooth decay (along with starch and other carbohydrates), sugar feeds oral bacteria that convert it into acid. The acid immediately attacks the enamel that surrounds teeth, depleting the teeth of minerals in the process so that enamel can’t regain its composure. The more often teeth are exposed to acid, the more prone they’ll be to cavities as bacteria slip past weakened enamel and infect the main body of the tooth.

Though everyone’s smile is different, and kids sometimes have particular dental needs, the principles of cavity prevention are the same for nearly everyone. Sugar-hungry bacteria accumulate on a daily basis, forming dental plaque as they gather, and controlling their numbers with daily hygiene is the key to preventing the damage they can cause. We advise patients of all ages to brush and floss their teeth at least twice every day, and after meals whenever possible. If you can’t brush after eating, then rinse your mouth with water to wash away food particles and neutralize bacterial acid. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments at our office can help fortify your and your children’s teeth against acid erosion and cavities if they’re especially weak and vulnerable.

Dr. Quinn Smith is a well-respected and highly experienced general, restorative, and family dentist in Grand Prairie, TX. He takes a patient-first approach that starts from the moment patients enter our Pecan Tree Dental office, and he offers a three-year guarantee on all dental work that he performs. Whether you and your family are new or returning patients, you can schedule a consultation or your next appointment with Dr. Smith by contacting us at (972) 262-5111.