• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

Click to call (314) 862-7844
950 Francis Pl #305
Clayton, MO 63105
Schedule Appointment
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
      • Michael J. Hoffmann, DDS
      • Sean M. Thoms, DMD, MS
      • Maris E. Behl DDS
    • Tour our Office
    • Press and News
    • Testimonials
  • Sedation Dentistry
    • Levels of Sedation
    • Conscious Sedation
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • General Anesthesia
    • Sleep Dentistry
  • Dental Services
    • General Dentistry
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Geriatric Dentistry
    • Cosmetic Dentistry
    • Restorative Dentistry
    • Dental Implants
    • Snoring & Sleep Apnea
    • Perio Protect
  • Who We Treat
    • Dental Anxiety & Phobia
    • Gag Reflex
    • Local Anesthetic Allergies
    • Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
    • TMJ and Difficulty Opening
    • Complex Medical History
    • Full Mouth Reconstruction
    • Extensive Treatment Plans
    • PTSD
  • Special Needs
    • Autism
    • Cerebral Palsy
    • Down Syndrome
    • Intellectual Disabilities
  • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Pediatric Sedation
    • Pediatric Anesthesia
  • Patient Info
    • Patient Forms
    • Dental Anesthesia Forms
    • Post Operative Forms
    • Insurance
    • Letter of Medical Necessity
    • Professional Referral Form
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

3 Tips to Help Parents Prevent Tooth Decay in Their Children

June 10, 2019 by DAC

Use these 3 simple tips to keep your child’s smile healthy and cavity-free.

Parents only want what’s best for their kids. It’s a fact. We want them to get a better start in life than we did. We want them to be healthy, have access to a great education, and provide them with the best opportunities. So, naturally, when something doesn’t go as we hoped, we may tend to go into panic mode.

Case in point: your kids’ oral health.


Picture this: after doing your homework about your baby’s first teeth and how to care for them, and being diligent about his routine, you discover at your St. Louis pediatric dentist appointment that his teeth are demineralized. What gives?

Why Tooth Decay Occurs in Toddlers

You need two variables for tooth decay to occur:

  • The presence of the right bacteria in the mouth and
  • A lifestyle that allows the bacteria to thrive and multiply.

If you have the habit of kissing your baby on the mouth or putting his pacifier in your mouth before giving it to him, then you may be passing colonies of cavity-producing bacteria to him.

Likewise, letting your dog lick your kid on the mouth is another risk factor as they are common carriers. While the presence of the right bacteria in the mouth can lead to tooth decay, it also needs the right environment to thrive. A person who has an unhealthy lifestyle and consumes lots of acidic foods and drinks daily will have poorer oral health than one that follows a balanced diet.

How to Remineralize Your Toddler’s Teeth

Unless you are extremely careful, you may have passed some of the harmful bacteria to your baby. Don’t despair! As we’ve mentioned already, it takes more than just that for cavities to occur. Take a look at your kid’s habits and see what you can change. Here are some ideas:

  • Instill Good Oral Hygiene Habits – Is he brushing his teeth twice a day? We mean REALLY brushing, not just touch them lightly with the toothbrush for a few seconds. Also, is your child brushing correctly? Ask your St. Louis pediatric dentist to show you how to clean his/her teeth correctly so that you don’t miss anything. Try to make the entire process fun. Put a song or create one together about how you are going to get the cavity monster.
  • Skip the Sweet Snacks – Giving your kid sweet snacks between meals is a surefire way for their teeth to demineralize. Instead of a cookie or pancakes, offer them fruits and other healthy snacks.
  • Control Their Sugar Intake – You may think that giving your kid to eat a handful of dried fruits, such as raisins, is benign. The quantity is small, and raisins are healthy, right? Well, not quite. Most foods nowadays are packed with added sugars. As we all know, sugar is one of the main culprits of tooth decay.

Hopefully, these simple tips will help you keep your child cavity-free. Additionally, it is important to have your child see a dentist regularly to keep up with their oral health. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844
Updated: February 2, 2022

Filed Under: Blog, Pediatric Dentistry Tagged With: pediatric dentist

Footer

The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry
950 Francis Pl #305
Clayton, MO 63105

(314) 862-7844

The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry Physical Address

Instant Contact Form

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2023 · The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry · Powered by Outshine Media LLC

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination