Healthy Dental Care Habits for Kids to Fight Cavities

Kids will be kids, which means you have to be the parent, helping your child develop good dental care habits to fight cavities and reduce the risk of gum disease. It’s a startling statistic that tooth decay is the number-two most-common health condition in the U.S., falling just behind the common cold. That means that it is extremely important to ensure that your child practices good daily dental care habits, including twice daily brushing (or, even better, brushing after every meal) and eating healthy foods that promote healthy teeth. And don’t forget the importance of the bi-annual visits to your family dentist in Indiana.

Cavity Prevention

Drink Tap Water. Many people believe that bottled water is better for you than tap water, but recent studies have shown that the bottled water contains dangerous chemicals from the plastic and can damage the body. Filtered tap water, however, is not filled with chemicals and in most cities has fluoride to help fight cavities and protect your child’s teeth.

Limit Juice Drinks. Even fruit juices have a significant amount of sugar. Aside from the well-established impact of sugary drinks on a child’s overall health, juice drinks are also very acidic, leading to tooth decay and erosion. If you give your child juice, limit the number of servings and always dilute it with plenty of water.

Monitor Sugar-Filled Treats
. Choosing the right sweets can make all the difference in your child’s oral health. You don’t want to deprive your child of occasional sweet treats, so instead of serving cookies that crumble with every bite and get stuck between teeth, consider plain chocolate. It is less likely to cause decay because saliva tends to easily wash away chocolate.

Avoid Bottles at Bedtime. Never give your child a bottle of milk or juice at bedtime. The acids in these drinks remain in your child’s mouth and can eat away at the tooth enamel, not only damaging baby teeth, but potentially causing problems with his or her adult teeth.

Consider Tooth Sealants. Your family dentistry expert can apply tooth sealants, which are clear or shaded coatings that will protect your child’s dental health if he or she has deeply grooved molars. Grooved and pitted surfaces of teeth trap food particles and are where most children’s cavities are found. A dentist in Indiana can seal the teeth of children as young as 2½ years old, but it is recommended that children be old enough to sit still during the procedure. Teeth with cavities or decay must never be sealed.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Indiana, call Wadas Dental today or make an appointment.