cavities

Encourage a structured meal program and supervise their brushing at least twice a day to make sure they get rid of plaque.

Parents do their best when it comes to keeping their children healthy and teaching them good habits. Dental health is highly regarded in the US, and children are taken to the dentist early on so they can get used to being in the dentist’s chair.

Some parents also realize the great importance diet has when it comes to their children’s dental health, and are careful to exclude sweets from their diet to protect their teeth. However, these parents are very surprised when they find out that their children have cavities in spite of their efforts to keep them off sweets.

So why is that? If it’s not sweets, then what’s causing cavities in children?

Eating Foods Rich in Carbs

One habit that can lead to cavities is the type of food our children eat. Not everyone knows that it’s not only the sugar that’s bad for your teeth, but also starchy carbs. Snacks like pretzels, corn puffs or bread sticks can be just as bad for your child’s teeth. To understand this better, remember that starches have sugars that eventually turn into plaque once they reach our mouths and are processed by the bacteria there.

Starchy carbs have the tendency to be sticky when you chew them. Just think of a pretzel and how it turns into a paste-like substance that gets into your teeth’s grooves and in between. This is the kind of food we should try to avoid.

Eating Continuously Throughout the Day

Most children and teens need to eat every 3 to 4 hours during the day to fuel their growing and active bodies. However, every time your child has a snack, the bacteria in their mouth increases the acidity in their mouth. The acid, in turn, can attack the enamel that protects their teeth, causing tooth decay.

So in this scenario, it’s not necessarily what your child is eating but how often.

Alternatives to Avoid Cavities Altogether

If you have identified the culprit in your child’s diet, eliminate it immediately and replace it with something healthy. As parents, we know that it’s much easier said than done, but luckily there are amazing alternatives to starches that your child will surely love.

Instead of giving them dried fruit or products that contain dried fruit (like granola), switch to fresh fruit. Fresh fruit does not linger on the teeth for so long and has fibers that can actually help clean the teeth.

Instead of starchy food, offer them fresh vegetables, nuts, and peanuts, or dairy products (unflavored).

Encourage a structured meal program and supervise their brushing at least twice a day to make sure they get rid of plaque. When it comes to healthy habits, the power of example and persistence are the keys to success.

According to one report, about 42% of kids aged two to 11 get dental cavities.

You are aware of the importance of good oral hygiene habits. So, you brush your toddler’s teeth thoroughly two times a day. You are not giving him any candies or sugary drinks and his diet is overall balanced and healthy. So, why does he keep getting cavities?

The first thing that you need to know is that it’s not unusual. According to one report, about 42% of kids aged two to 11 get dental cavities. It happens so often that cavities are more common than conditions like asthma. Lack of proper oral hygiene, as well as an unhealthy diet, play an important role. However, that’s not the full picture.

How Babies and Toddlers Get Cavities

There is a group of bacteria called streptococcus mutans. The bacteria feed on sugar and produce acid that affects the structure of the teeth. It also creates plaque that erodes the teeth even more, depleting it from calcium. In time, the surface of the teeth is affected and eventually collapses. That’s when you get a cavity.

Babies are born without these bacteria but get infected by their caregivers (most often their mother.) Whenever you are kissing your baby on the mouth, eating with the same spoon or letting him use your toothbrush, you are creating opportunities for the bacteria to populate his mouth. And, if you have cavities yourself, then the chances of passing these bacteria on to them increases considerably.

What You Can Do

The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your toddlers brush his teeth correctly. It can be difficult for babies to understand the concept of cavities and why they need to brush. It’s also uncomfortable for them when someone sticks something into their mouth for no apparent reason. So, try to make brushing as fun as possible.

Here are some ideas:

• Sing a song and dance while you are brushing
• Let them brush the toy’s teeth first
• Let them brush their teeth by himself. Praise him for a good job then tell him that you are just going to make sure that he didn’t miss anything.

It’s Never too Soon to Visit a Dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Association (AAPD) recommends that babies see a dentist by their first birthday. If you wait too long, tooth decay may be well on its way and more difficult to prevent. If you haven’t already, then schedule an appointment with your St. Louis pediatric dentist as soon as possible. They can help you understand what you need to know about how to care for your kid’s pearly whites.

Give us a call today at (314) 862-7844. We’d be happy to help you setup an appointment!

Between stubbornness, unhealthy foods, and busy schedules, maintaining your child’s oral health is a tough task.

Keeping your child cavity-free may get a lot tougher in the summer. Not only do children’s schedules get more irregular in the Summer months, but their food choices also suffer. This shouldn’t discourage you, though. With enough careful attention, you can keep your child’s summer healthy and cavity-free. A big part of that is regularly seeing a St. Louis pediatric dentist, while the other part is managing their oral health habits. The four most important practices to adopt are listed below.

Commit to Your Oral Health Routine

When Summer comes around, certain routines seem to go out the window. Your child doesn’t have school, their activities may be different, bedtimes change, and they often sleep at friends’ houses. In times like these, it is vital that you keep your oral health routine precisely the way it has been. No matter where your child is or what they have done that day, make a point of getting them in the bathroom for a full routine of brushing and flossing. That should include 2 minutes of brushing morning and night, flossing at least once per day, and taking extra care when dealing with braces.

Drink Lots of Water

There are a few reasons to increase your child’s water intake. The first has nothing to do with teeth: The weather is hot, and they should be drinking a lot to stay healthy and hydrated. The second is that summer seems to bring out the most sugar-filled drinks like lemonade, Gatorade, and sodas. These are very bad for dental health and should be avoided. Lastly, a dry mouth is a mouth that is vulnerable to cavities. Staying hydrated will keep them at bay.

Don’t Sacrifice Dental Health During Travel

Traveling can be very hectic, and when things get crazy, oral health may tend to get pushed aside. Don’t make this mistake when you take your summer vacation. First, add all of the necessary tools to your packing list so your child will be able to go through their whole routine while on the road. Second, set aside time every night to brush and floss. You don’t have to schedule your entire vacation meticulously, but planning dental care is a smart decision.

Eat Foods That Are Good for Teeth

Unfortunately, many of the classic summer foods and drinks are very bad for teeth. That includes things that are acidic like certain fruits, sugary like sodas, and starchy like potato chips. It is best for your child’s teeth if you replace these snacks with teeth-friendly foods like fibrous vegetables.

When it comes to keeping your child’s oral health in check, summer is the most challenging time of year. It is easy to lose control, but if you do, there will likely be consequences. No kid wants to have a cavity, and no parent wants to pay to get it fixed. You can do your best to avoid this situation by following the four tips listed above.

Call The Dental Anesthesia Center today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

Mothers who use the same utensils and drink from the same glass may increase their child’s likelihood of developing a cavity.

Although it is tempting to kiss your growing baby on the lips, you might want to fight the temptation. There is evidence that kissing a baby on the lips may increase a baby’s risk for dental cavities.

In fact, mothers who use the same utensils and drink from the same glass may increase their child’s likelihood of developing a cavity.

Passing Bacteria Can Cause Cavities

According to recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, if you share bacteria with your baby, you might be doing them harm. The bacteria called streptococcus mutans present in a mother’s mouth might cause damage to their growing youngster.

When you pass streptococcus mutans from your mouth to your child’s through transmission, you increase the chances that they will develop dental problems. Vertical transmission, or sharing vectors of contamination like spoons, glasses, or bowls, transfer harmful bacteria that the mother is carrying into a baby’s mouth, when they might not be capable of warding it off.

Tooth decay is the result of an infection in someone’s mouth that can be transmitted from one mouth to another in the same manner as a bacteria, or viral infection spreading from person to person.

The higher the amount of MS that a mother has in her mouth, the higher the risk she poses to transfer it to her baby. Behaviors as seemingly benign as kissing a baby on the mouth might be the vector that promotes cavity formation in a baby.

What that Means for Mother and Baby

The first thing to know is that limiting the amount of germ sharing from mothers to babies, by not kissing a baby on the mouth or sharing utensils, is an excellent way to prevent the potential that you can be passing harmful bacteria along to your baby. It also means that a mother should pay close attention to her oral health to limit transmission bacteria to her baby.

Reduce the risk of transmission by doing the following:

• As a mother, pay close attention to your oral care and oral care habits, which includes visiting the dentist regularly and flossing and brushing appropriately.
• Maximizing your oral care and paying close attention to the oral health of your growing child.
• When pregnant, make sure to have your dentist evaluate your oral health for preventative and or therapeutic maintenance.
• Take extra precaution to wipe down and sanitize your baby’s pacifier, not just when it is dropped, but frequently, to avoid bacterial buildup.

As a mother, you want the best for your child. You want your child to establish good oral habits that will last them a lifetime. Although it may be hard at first, limiting contaminating your child’s mouth with foreign bacteria from other sources, even your lips, is essential.

St. Louis Pediatric Dentist

If you have any questions concerning your child’s oral care, contact The Dental Anesthesia Center. We value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver gentle dental care that you and your child deserve.

Call to schedule an appointment at (314) 862-7844.