Kids' teeth are susceptible to tooth decay and cavities when not taken care of properly. Learn how to prevent tooth decay in children here.

Teach Dental Hygiene

One of the most important things you can teach your children is dental hygiene. Dental problems in children can be almost entirely avoided by doing this.

Even children younger than three years old can start to have a dental routine. You should begin flossing your child's teeth at two years old to prevent early tooth decay.

Children that are three years old can begin to use toothbrushes and toothpaste. In the beginning, you will need to do this for them so that their teeth get clean.

Once they begin to get older, they can start to brush and floss themselves. Although, it is a good idea to do this with them in the bathroom to make sure it is being done correctly.



You can also get them started on mouthwash to keep their mouths free of bacteria. Instilling a routine at a young age will encourage them to continue doing this as they get older.

Provide a Healthy Diet

The best tooth decay treatment is to have a healthy diet. Unfortunately, many parents neglect to do this, allowing their children to have a high-sugar and carbohydrate diet instead.

You should encourage your children to eat a diet with the basic food groups. Processed foods and sugary foods should be only given to them on rare occasions.

Another common culprit of tooth decay in children is sugary juices. Most parents give their children fruit juice, not thinking that this is going to do any harm.



The sugar can attach to their teeth and end up developing decay over time. Some sugary foods and drinks are okay in small amounts as long as dental hygiene is prioritized.

Have Regular Dental Appointments

You should get a pediatric dentist in Tijuana, Mexico for your child. Routine dental visits will help prevent tooth decay in children as well as other oral issues.

Simply practicing good dental hygiene is not going to be enough for your child. This is important, but they also need to visit the dentist yearly for checkups and tooth cleanings.

Children cannot remove plaque from their teeth, and this will need to be cleaned off at the dentist. Regular visits also ensure that any issues are caught early on.



Tooth decay treatments are much milder if the decay is discovered early. If it becomes too severe, it can cause a cavity or even result in tooth loss.

What Is Tooth Decay?

Dental problems and children are much more common than they should be, this includes tooth decay. Tooth decay is the breakdown or destruction of the tooth enamel.

The enamel is the hard surface of the tooth that protects it from bacteria. Damage to this enamel opens the tooth up to all kinds of problems from the bacteria in the mouth.

The most common cause of tooth decay is when food is left on the teeth. This specifically, includes carbohydrates like sugars and starches from candy, cake, juice, soda, and milk.

The combination of bacteria in the mouth, food, saliva, and acid create plaque. This plaque attaches to the enamel and can start to wear away and cause damage.

This results in tooth decay and will usually become a cavity on the tooth. Children are more at risk for this because they may not have adequate dental hygiene.



Children often have an unhealthy diet, and their food may remain on their teeth all day long. Children also don’t drink as much water, preventing bacteria and food from being washed away.

What Are the Symptoms of Tooth Decay?

If you suspect that your child has tooth decay, there are some signs to look for. You don’t want to ignore any complaints from your child since they could be a sign of something serious.

This is also why routine dental visits are so important for your child. Problems like tooth decay will be spotted before symptoms develop and progressed.

Pain

Children can begin to experience pain if they have tooth decay that has turned into cavities. Oftentimes, this comes in the form of sensitivity to foods and drinks.

They may feel pain when eating hot or cold food or things that are sweet. They may have gum sensitivity around the infected tooth, that makes it hard to brush that area.

Discolored Spot

Children may develop a white spot on a tooth that has tooth decay. This white spot indicates that the tooth enamel is breaking down, causing this color change.



When a cavity starts to officially form, the spot will usually turn a light shade of brown. As the cavity becomes deeper, the color will become darker as an actual hole forms.

Tooth Decay in Children

If you have young children, you should be taking them to a pediatric dentist in Tijuana, Mexico regularly. Tooth decay in children is very common and is easy to prevent with the right steps.



Do you want to schedule a dentist appointment? Contact us today at Dentiland pediatric dentist services for children and adults.