Why are Cavities More Common in Children?

 Cavities can affect a child’s oral health. When children get cavities, it eats away the tooth’s natural tissues, ultimately leading to tooth infection. According to Dr. Ravneet Kaur, the best dentist for children in Delhi, if left untreated, cavities can cause damage to the child’s teeth. Therefore, restorative dental procedures are needed to improve oral health. This article will take a closer look at what causes cavities in children and some effective ways of preventing them.

What Causes Cavities in Children?

The following are the factors that cause cavities in children:

1. Bacteria

The bacteria present in a child’s mouth produce acid, which damages the teeth and causes cavities. The link between sugar and tooth decay is that cavity-causing bacteria feed off sugar. When we eat sugary foods (or foods that break down into sugars in our mouths), these bacteria eat the sugars, using them to grow and multiply and turning them into an acidic waste product that is harmful for our teeth. Children can get cavity-causing bacteria from their mothers through saliva. But anyone can spread the bacteria, including other children. 

2. Diet

Consuming sugary foods can increase children's risk of cavities. Therefore, one must reduce their consumption of sugary drinks to maintain their oral health and prevent cavities. However, sweets are not solely considered problematic. Foods containing carbohydrates that are broken down into sugar while in the child's mouth can feed cavity-causing bacteria. This implies that not only sugary food but processed and starchy foods like chips and white bread are also detrimental for a child’s teeth. To determine which foods should be avoided to prevent cavities, it is best to seek the advice of a leading orthodontist. One can consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. Ravneet Kaur, a prominent orthodontist in Delhi, at Smiles By Dr. Ravneet Kaur's dental clinic.

3. Dental Enamel Defects

Dental enamel is the hard, outer coating on a tooth that provides protection. Some enamel issues, such as enamel hypoplasia, may increase a child's risk of getting cavities. These defects may be inherited or caused by a variety of factors, such as low birth weight, a virus or bacterial infection, or tooth damage. A pediatric dentist can detect dental enamel defects and create a treatment plan for reducing the risk of cavities.

4. Oral Hygiene Habits

Poor oral hygiene can increase the risk of cavities in children. Parents must understand that it is important to brush the child's teeth twice a day as soon as their first teeth emerge, and begin flossing as soon as the child has two teeth. Brushing a child’s teeth helps remove the cavities from the teeth. Moreover, parents should use a fluoride toothpaste that helps strengthen the child’s dental enamel. Flossing a child’s teeth helps remove harmful bacteria from the tooth surface where a toothbrush cannot reach.

5. Mouth Breathing

Saliva naturally keeps the teeth clean. In addition to getting rid of food bits, it fixes the damage that bacteria that cause cavities do to our teeth. Children who breathe through their mouths instead of their noses often have dry mouths, so it's not a surprise that they are more likely to get cavities. If the child has trouble breathing through their mouth, a pediatric dentist may be able to help by using interceptive orthodontic appliances.

Which Foods Often Lead to Cavities?

Here are some common foods that increase children's risk of cavities:

• Sugary food
• Citrus fruits
• Soft drinks
• Sauces that contain high levels of sugar. These include pasta sauces.
• High processed food
• Crackers
  

If the child enjoys eating such food, it automatically increases their risk of developing cavities.

How Can I Prevent Cavities in Children?

There are certain preventive steps that children must take to reduce the development of cavities:

• Children must make it a habit to brush in the morning and before bed. This helps remove plaque, which acts as a reserve for bacteria and sugar. Flossing is also important because it gets between the teeth and into areas where the tooth brush bristles cannot reach.
• Children should use fluoride toothpaste, as it helps restore minerals lost due to acid producing bacteria.
• Children must focus on healthy eating habits and have a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables. They should avoid candies and sugary foods that stick to their teeth.
• Children should stay hydrated at all times. Water helps to get away with food particles that cause cavities.
• It is also important to take the child to routine dental appointments so that the dental experts can spot any cavities that cause the child pain.

Seek Help From the Best Dentist For Children in Gurgaon

If one is searching for the best dentist for children in Gurgaon, one can consider consulting Dr. Ravneet Kaur at Smiles By Dr. Ravneet Kaur's dental practice. The expert pediatric dentist provides treatment for gum infections and cavities, offers oral health examinations of infants, provides counseling for infants’ thumb sucking and use of a pacifier, etc.

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