5 Tips for Preventing Tooth Decay in Children from Your Port Charlotte Family Dentist

When you take your child to your Port Charlotte family dentist for their dental examination, your dentist will check for signs of tooth decay because it is very common in children. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cavities are more common in children than asthma and more than half of the children in the United States have cavities by the time they begin second grade.
Your Port Charlotte family dentist recommends these 5 tips for preventing tooth decay in children
Children as young as 12 months old can have cavities in their teeth because of their exposure to sugar and the lack of proper brushing. However, you can prevent your child from dealing with tooth decay by using the following tips.
1. Establish a brushing routine
Children enjoy having routines, which is why it is important to get them in the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day so they will continue brushing their teeth regularly as they get older. You might face some resistance in the beginning but most children will eventually give in to the routine with some positive reinforcement.
2. Help your children brush their teeth
Your Port Charlotte family dentist recommends helping your children brush their teeth until they are eight years old because children under the age of eight cannot brush their teeth properly by themselves, which can put them at risk of cavities.
You should show your kids the right way to brush their teeth and help them until they can do it properly on their own. You should continue to supervise your kids when they brush until they are 11 years old, at which point they should be able to brush their teeth properly without adult supervision.
3. Use fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride is very effective when it comes to preventing cavities and the formation of plaque, which is why your Port Charlotte family dentist recommends only using toothpaste that contains fluoride. Since children younger than two years old are likely to swallow toothpaste, you should avoid using fluoride toothpaste on children that are two years old or younger.
Use the recommended amount of toothpaste to brush your children’s teeth, but do not allow them to rinse their teeth after spitting so the fluoride will stay on their teeth and provide extra protection.
4. Reduce their sugar intake
Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay in children, which is why you have to keep your kids away from sugary foods and drinks. If you want to give your kids sugary drinks, avoid giving it to them during meals and limit them to four ounces per day. You should also make sure your children brush their teeth or rinse their mouth with water after consuming sugary foods or drinks.
5. Make regular visits to the dentist
Your children might not want to visit a dentist but you should make sure that they go for regular checkups at least twice a year so your Port Charlotte family dentist can routinely check for signs of decay and also help to prevent it by cleaning their teeth with fluoride during their examination.
The bottom line
Children are at a high risk of getting cavities because they consume a lot of sugar and most of them do not practice good oral hygiene. Keep your child’s teeth free of cavities by using these five tips, and consult with your Port Charlotte family dentist should you have any questions.
Request an appointment here: https://dragonflydentalportcharlotte.com or call Dragonfly Dental of Port Charlotte at (941) 676-9225 for an appointment in our Port Charlotte office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Google: Read our Google reviews.
Related Posts
The popularity of tooth-colored fillings keeps increasing among patients with cavities, as well as their dentists. In the past, they were only performed on the front teeth that were more visible. Today, it is possible, and increasingly common, for patients to have fillings that mimic the appearance of natural teeth in the back teeth as…
Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay or cavities, are a prevalent dental problem. Composite fillings are one great solution to this often painful and sensitive issue. Composite fillings work to stop tooth decay in its tracks while still allowing filling recipients to maintain a more natural-looking smile, unlike other filling types.Composite fillings, composite resin…
Composite fillings are resin materials made with a plastic and glass mixture. Dentists began to use tooth-colored fillings in the 1960s, but they were too weak for the back teeth. Nowadays, the composite resin is strong enough for all teeth. Dentists may use the fillings to restore a decayed tooth or reshape a disfigured, cracked,…
Dental patients with chipped or broken teeth have more options for tooth repair than in the past, such as the use of composite fillings. These fillings can not only restore a tooth but also prevent the need for extraction, which can leave gaps in the smile and cause the remaining teeth to shift. They can…