A cavity is a hollow space inside the natural bone that is used for living. Cavities can occur as a result of:
Cavities can be fun and exciting for children. For instance, children can explore and find areas to go in and out of the cavity. Or they can just look forward to seeing what’s in their cavity!
For example, young children enjoy removing old teeth more than new ones, so replacing worn or missing teeth is an easy way to get your child engaged. By also exposing them to some medicine treatment and/or dentistry, you are already covered in case something unforeseen happens.
More advanced patients may use freeze drying or fire drying to destroy old bones.
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Causes of cavities
As mentioned earlier, sweets and high-fives are major causes of cavities. This can be obvious when a child is eating large amounts of food but not chewing thoroughly to expose the space between the food and teeth to developing tooth structures.
Children who develop cavities should be very careful about their nutrition, especially on calcium-rich foods. Calcium is an important mineral that helps your body use other nutrients in food.
Youngsters who have been exposed to cavities should not eat very often, unless the cavity is filled. Removing the tooth that is affected and replacing it with a new one can help prevent this again.
Youngsters who have two or more gaps in their teeth should be checked by a dentist regularly to determine if any more replaceable teeth are affected.
Symptoms of cavities
While most children do well without ingesting a lot of calcium and vitamin D, there are some signs your child may have a cavity.
Some children have symptoms that do not fit the rule, such as not being interested in routine dental care. This is probably due to the fear of what they might be asked to do, or the fact that it is their first time.
Reassurance play is a great way to help children cope with their lack of confidence about having a bite. Creating playthings they can make and hoovering up stories about their own fillings will help them feel more involved with the process.
If your child does have symptoms that are outside the norm for a child with no cavities, then an X-ray can tell us if there is bone loss or other damage to the teeth and jaw structure. If this is the case, we can usually save the tooth and give them coverage on their next visit.
Treatments for cavities
There are many ways to treat a child’s cavity.
Home care
When children are young, they love to visit their favorite place in the world: their mouth. This is normal of course, as children are curious and entice you to open your mouth to put things in and for that they thank you.
This interest in mouths can lead to some interesting cavities. A child’s flat mouth, usually around the age of 6–12 months, is what they prefer as a spot to sit and chew on anything they like.
The typical toddler cavity is around the lower front teeth where the gum meets the tooth. This area tends to be sensitive, so if it is missed by much of the child’s caretaker, can be a big problem. The child may not realize they have a cavity and could potentially pull up on it until it is too late.
The most important part of home care when dealing with a toddler with a cavity is being aware of this area and how sensitive it can be.
Frequent brushing
A children’s author says that children who seem to have lot of cavities should keep tabs on how often they brush.
One reason young children may not Brush Like A Pro is because they do not keep track of the time spent in the mirror cleaning their teeth and practicing brushing.
Another thing to watch for is frequent checking of the mouth and/or speaking. Often, people feel like they are constantly talking when they brush their teeth, but that is a good thing!
When kids are very bad at brushing, you can try using an upright brush or a handheld brush. The upright brush will help prevent recurring tooth surfaces from getting raw or causing further injury during brushing. The handheld can help eliminate some of the need for regular re-brushing, as it can be used as a way to check progress.
Use fluoride toothpaste
Children over the age of two or three should never be allowed to Brush their teeth with tap water because this can cause harm to children’s enamel.
This is due to the fact that when toddlers brush their teeth with tap water, it decreases the amount of nutrients in the food that they are brushing, which can decrease its value as a food.
However, this is not true for infants’ or toddlers’ teeth. Infants and toddlers’ teeth are more delicate so even though there may not be as much nutrition in the brushing process, it still needs to be done.
Babies can sometimes get into trouble trying to brush their own teeth. The most common problem babies get into is getting caught or starting but does not yet start on the back side. Either of those problems can lead to dental issues.
Check with your dentist
When children are young, they can easily have cavities. This is due to their lack of developed immune system or systems to defend against the cavity.
Children up to about age 6 or 7 are at risk for a cavity. As they grow and become more resistant to pain, the chance for a cavity increases.
The average child does not have a full-fledged cavity every year, but usually every other year. The frequency can vary, making it more likely that you notice a cavity coming when it is new.
If you notice your child has a new cavity, you need to check it with a dental mirror to make sure it isn’t bigger or deeper.
Soft spots on the teeth can allow bacteria to enter and cause a cavity
When children begin to eat sugar-based foods, the balance of bacteria in the mouth changes.
Waxes and grimes on the teeth become more common as children gain weight. This is because young children cannot remember how to handle food and cleaning their teeth at times.
As kids gain older and older, it is time to worry about a child having a hard time getting cavities. Dr. Barbour recommends never having a child without using a cup or canister in the bath or in the case of a cavity, taking one’s child out of the bath and giving them at home.
Having family members or friends take your child to the dentist every six months is also important to keep up with regularly.