How to Know When Your Child Has A Cavity

A dental cavity is not a new thing for children. In fact, for kids between 6 to 14 years old, you can almost always anticipate dental cavities. It is one of the reasons why Paseo Ranch Pediatric Dentists emphasize the need for early pediatric dental care for kids, to remain proactive, even in the cavity-prone years of their lives.

Still, without professional dental assistance, there is a way to know when your child is having dental decay or problems related thereof. Read on to learn this an more about dental decay for children.

What Is Dental Decay?

It is a dental problem that involves the gradual damage of a tooth, right from the enamel to the core thereof. The decay process begins by attacking the enamel of teeth, then making its way to other parts of the tooth’s structure. Tooth decay is by far the most common dental problem among kids. While there are many causes of tooth decay, the following explanations cover them all.

The process of dental decay starts when acids in the mouth begin to corrode the enamel. Usually, acid is generated by the foods we consume, combined with saliva and the bacteria in your mouth. Left untouched, this combination can cause a lot of damage in a mouth.

Once the enamel of a tooth is corroded, it is now susceptible to further damage. This is when dental cavities begin to form. They appear on the surface of the tooth where the enamel is most compromised. Slowly, the bacteria get into the insides of your tooth, progressing the oral decay into something a lot more complex than dental caries.

How Can You Spot Dental Decay on Your Child?

Caring for a child’s dental health is largely the responsibility of a parent until the child is old enough to do it themselves. This is why you must be aware of how to detect flaws in your child’s oral health and find a solution to them as early as possible. Some of the ways to detect dental decay include:

1. Black or brownish spots on teeth – when the corrosion of the enamel begins, it is likely that the point for the cavity to manifest will be discolored.
2. Deepening pits – dental pits are usually for the back teeth. The chewing surfaces have depressions that allow for proper chewing and breaking down of foods. The deeper the pits become, the more likely it is that decay is happening.
3. Increased tooth sensitivity – have you noticed that your child is sensitive to hot and cold foods? Dentin hypersensitivity is an indicator of thinning of the enamel, which means that oral decay will also bring up suchlike issues.
4. Toothaches – if it ever gets to the point of toothaches, then it is highly likely that the infection in the tooth has spread to the core parts of the structure. This means that your child is already experiencing progressed dental decay. Be alert to notice the complaints that arise thereof. Even though the pain comes and goes, kids have a way of communicating when they are in pain.

How To Prevent Dental Decay

Fortunately, there are multiple ways to not only slow the progression of dental decay but even prevent it from happening in the first place. Some of the following steps should help you:

1. Excel in oral hygiene – keeping a clean mouth at all times will ensure that acids and bacteria do not build up in the mouth. This fights plaque, which is a big causative agent of dental decay, among other oral issues.
2. See a pediatric dentist – these dental experts exist for a reason. They have all the necessary skills and equipment to help you stay on track with your oral health. Besides, services like dental cleanings & exams can help a lot with fighting dental decay and sustaining excellent oral hygiene.
3. Watch what your kid eats – food is the one way we can cause harm to our teeth and even bodies. Children tend to like sugary foods like candies and sweet pastries, over healthier food options. While this happens to most of them, you can control what your child eats. It should not matter whether they have baby teeth or permanent teeth. All teeth should be protected equally.