3 Things To Help Protect Your Child's Dental Health

Posted on: 5 May 2016

If your child's dentist has found multiple cavities in your youngster's mouth during his or her most recent dental visits, the dental professional may suggest several treatments and at-home changes to help lessen your child's chances of dental decay. Here are a few things that may be recommended to help protect your youngster's dental health:

Less Soda

Even if you are choosing sugar-free varieties of soda to limit the amount of sugar to which your child's teeth are exposed, the high acid levels in soda can still cause tooth decay. The acid in the soda can dissolve important minerals within the tooth enamel to weaken it and promote the development of dental caries.

Instead of sodas, have your child drink non carbonated drinks that are sugar-free. For best results, water or tea is suggested. Water can help dilute acids that are found in the oral cavity without subjecting your child's teeth to sugar.

Tea can also be used as a substitute for soda. Not only is tea less acidic, it can help kill oral bacteria in the mouth that produce acid that leads to tooth decay.

Fluoride Treatments

Your child can use over-the-counter fluoride rinses to help strengthen his or her teeth. Fluoride coats the surface of the enamel and attracts dissolved minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus. In addition, fluoride combines with the minerals to form a tooth material that resists acid better than your child's original enamel.

If your child's teeth have been especially problematic, the dentist may suggest fluoride treatments that are performed in the dental office. These treatments are applied by the dental professional and contain higher concentrations of fluoride than over-the-counter products do.

When applied, the fluoride is left on the teeth for the designated period to allow it to penetrate deeply into the pores of the teeth. The application is not uncomfortable. Fluoride can be painted on as a varnish or applied as a gel. In some instances, a mouth tray will be used to position the product properly on the teeth and allow it to remain in place for the desired amount of time.

Dental Sealants

The dentist may also apply dental sealants to your child's teeth to help block the teeth's exposure to acid, plaque and oral bacteria. The sealants are actually plastic coatings that are designed for dental use.

To learn more ways to help preserve your child's oral health, schedule a consultation with a pediatric dentist in your area, such as Marci Mendola-Pitcher DDS.

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