Between Halloween and the upcoming holiday season, your kids will be inundated with sugary sweets, which is a recipe for tooth decay. But our team wants to make sure your kids enjoy good oral health and avoid cavities! In today’s blog, your Katy, TX, dentist talks about preventing tooth decay with children’s dentistry.
The Causes of Cavities
When kids eat a diet high in sugar, this allows particles to become stuck to the teeth or between them. Lack of proper brushing and flossing can leave the particles behind for harmful bacteria to consume, a process that coats the teeth in plaque buildup, which then hardens into tartar. The buildup will weaken and erode enamel and inflame gum tissues to cause cavities and even gingivitis. Over time, the decay could become an infection that threatens tooth stability. Your kids could be vulnerable to tooth sensitivity and toothaches. Don’t ignore their complaints about aching teeth, bring them in for an appointment. With a filling, we can offer relief and a lifelike restoration in one visit.
Cleanings
When you bring your children in for a regular checkup and cleaning every six months, we can monitor the smile for the earliest signs of developing tooth decay, treating the issue before infection arises. We can also help prevent cavities with a dental cleaning, in which we remove all plaque and tartar from the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool. Doing so not only brightens the teeth, but lowers the risk of cavities. We then polish the teeth to keep them bright and also make it more difficult for plaque and tartar to adhere to them in between visits.
Fluoride and Dental Sealants
Our team can also provide preventive treatments to help lower the risk of tooth decay in little smiles. During each checkup appointment, our team can apply a fluoride varnish to the teeth to strengthen the enamel and prevent erosion. We can also apply dental sealants, an acrylic layer that coats the teeth and stays in place for up to ten years. The sealants prevent food from being trapped between the rear teeth, lowering the risk of cavities in the area kids have the most difficulty reaching when they brush and floss. With both options, application takes minutes and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about 30 minutes.
If you have any questions about how our team diagnoses and treats tooth decay, or about our preventive treatment options, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help your little ones stay cavity-fee during the holidays and beyond!
Schedule Your Child’s Next Appointment Today!
With preventive family dental care, we can help kids enjoy good oral health. Call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX today at 832-437-3849 to schedule a visit for your child.
