Probably one of the most common health problem for both adults and children is tooth decay and cavity. Children are even more affected than the adults.
Cavities need to be treated right away because if not, they will get larger and can lead to tooth loss and severe toothache. The bad news is that can even affect children’s growth.
What Caused this Child’s Massive Tooth Decay?
There was a case where the principal dental officer for Nelson Marlborough District, Dr. Rob Beaglehole, had to extract 11 teeth from a 3-year-old and the main reason was because his parents let him drink Coke from a sipper bottle just to “keep him happy”.
According to dentists, all those kids who excessively drink soda instead of nutritional beverages, are far more prone to tooth decay than the other ones. Moreover, they are also prone to serious ailments later in life, such as osteoporosis and diabetes.
The reason why drinking soft drinks on a regular basis is harmful for teeth is because it contributes to the erosion of tooth enamel. Enamel breakdown leads to cavities.
If not treated immediately, and erosion spreads beneath the enamel, pain and sensitivity may eventually result, which will result in the need for a root canal.
The main factors that actually cause tooth decay in the first place include the frequency in which the foods are eaten and the time they remain as particles in the mouth.
Getting help for tooth decay
It is your responsibility to check your child’s teeth once a month.
During the check up, look for dull white spots or lines on the teeth. You can find them on the necks of the teeth next to the gums. Moreover, dark teeth are an obvios sing of tooth decay.
If you notice any signs, you need to take your child to the dentist right away since early childhood tooth decay must be treated as soon as possible.
Preventing tooth decay with good dental care
In order to prevent tooth decay, you should brush your teeth at least twice per day. Moreover, you should consume healthy and nutritious diet, and have regular dental check-ups with the dentist.
Try consuming some tooth-friendly foods such as cheese, chopped veggies like celery and carrots.