Why does my child get so many cavities?
Cavity-causing foods, snacks, bacteria, genetics and more...
Understanding dental disease
At Hello Kids Dentistry we often take care of the dental needs for siblings. It is not uncommon for one sibling to have more cavities than the other. Parent's ask frequently why some of their children get more cavities than others. In this article, Hello Kids Dentistry will explore some of the reasons for this finding. We hope that you find the information below useful.
What Causes Cavities?
Many people assume that cavities are caused by not brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. Brushing and flossing definitely help reduce the number of cavities that a person gets in their life but they will not eliminate them all together. We have many patients that brush and floss just like they should every day and they still get cavities. Some people are just more susceptible to cavities for a variety of reasons.
Sugary foods and dental decay Most cavities are caused by sugar-containing foods and drinks. The largest cause for cavities is diet. What you are putting into your body definitely impacts your general health but the same is true for oral health. When you eat or drink sugary foods or drinks, the sugar sits in your mouth and on your teeth and along the gum line. The sugar draws bacteria to it. Bacteria can erode your tooth enamel by excreting (releasing) an acidic byproduct that resorbs the calcium from teeth, weakening the tooth and thereby starting the tooth breakdown process. Your teeth need strong enamel because that is what helps protect teeth from decay. If your teeth get decayed, the dentin is exposed under the enamel which will cause cavities to form. Simply cutting down on sodas, juices, sweets, and carbohydrates can help reduce risk of cavities significantly.
What can you do?
We recommend that you replace those foods with less sweet fruits and vegetables. Instead of drinking soda, water is a significantly better choice for oral hygiene. After consuming sugary foods, brush your child's teeth right away. The bacteria quantity in each person is unique. Some people have more bacteria in their mouth than others. The more bacteria you have in your mouth the more likely you are to develop cavities. Regular brushing and flossing will help combat cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. The AAPD recommends parents brush their kids teeth until age 8.
Can dry mouth cause cavities?
Dry Mouth Can Cause Cavities – Another cause of cavities is not having enough saliva in your mouth or having frequent dry mouth. Saliva serves many purposes in our bodies. Saliva helps you digest food and keep your mouth moist. The properties of saliva counteract the bacteria that cause cavities in your mouth. If you have frequent dry mouth try rinsing with mouth wash every day to enhance the enamel on your teeth. You will also want to drink plenty of water every day. If you still have dry mouth on a regular basis contact your doctor. Cavity Prone Teeth Shapes – Sometimes your tooth shape makes you more susceptible to cavities than other people. If you naturally have more spaces in between your teeth food particles, sugars, and bacteria can easily catch in the spaces between your teeth and create a cavity. Some people have deep grooves on their teeth. These deep grooves also make you more susceptible to cavities. You will want to consider brushing teeth more frequently if you have this problem.
Pediatric Dentistry & Dental Decay Prevention
Hello Kids Dentistry hopes this article helped you understand why some kids get cavities more frequently than others. You can help them by encouraging them to eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, floss daily, and brush twice a day. Even if they do all of this they may still get cavities but at that point you can rest assured that you are doing everything you can to help. Contact Hello Kids Dentistry today to schedule an appointment.
#hellokidsdentistry #anticavity #cavities #stopgettingcavities #kidsdentist #pediatricdentist #kidsdental