Does a child's tooth have a hole that needs to be filled?

Children between the ages of 2 and 14 are susceptible to tooth decay. Some children have uneven teeth, or do not like to brush their teeth after eating sweets and do not pay attention to dental hygiene, which can easily lead to tooth decay. At first, black spots will appear on the teeth, then they will develop into small holes, and slowly the small holes will turn into large holes. Finally, if the tooth decay is serious, it will cause all the teeth to rot. Therefore, when a child has a cavity in his tooth, it is important to fill it in time.

1. The harm of having holes in teeth

1. Affects overall development

The tooth cavity will grow from small to large, from shallow to deep, and then invade the dental pulp, causing the child to have toothache and be unable to eat, directly affecting the child's overall development.

2. Affect the eruption of permanent teeth

If parents do not seek timely treatment for their children after their teeth are decayed, the deciduous teeth will be lost prematurely, causing the adjacent teeth to occupy the missing parts and making it difficult for them to erupt.

3. Affect jaw development

If a child's teeth are decayed, the child can only chew food with the teeth on the opposite side. Over time, this will affect the child's jaw development and even the child's facial appearance.

3. Prevention of dental caries should start from childhood

1. Preventive measures during the fetal period

Pregnant women should pay attention to taking in an appropriate amount of calcium, because the development of the fetus's teeth, bones and nervous system requires a lot of calcium. The roots of deciduous teeth and some permanent teeth have been formed under the gums as early as the fetal period, so pregnant women should eat more calcium-rich foods, which is beneficial to the formation of fetal tooth blanks.

2. Avoid eating before bed

If you breastfeed or eat before going to bed, the milk and food in your mouth will provide favorable conditions for the growth of bacteria. The fermentation of food residues and the action of bacteria will eventually produce acid, which is the most powerful corrosive agent that damages the quality of tooth enamel. In addition, the pulp cavity of children's deciduous teeth is relatively large, and the outer enamel and dentin are relatively thin, making it easy to develop caries.

3. Eat sugar in moderation

Sugar is easily broken down by bacteria to produce acid, and children's diets are mostly sweet, which creates conditions for the production of corrosive acids. Therefore, limit children's sugar intake and tell them to rinse their mouths or drink some water after eating sugar to avoid leaving sugar in their mouths.

4. Regular dental care

When a child is two years old, that is, when all his or her deciduous teeth have grown out, you should take your child to have his or her deciduous teeth checked, and have the plaque on the deciduous teeth treated. You should also do local fluoride treatment in order to more effectively prevent tooth decay.

5. Don’t let your teeth lack fluoride

If the drinking water contains appropriate amounts of fluoride, the incidence of dental caries in growing children will be reduced to 65%. If the fluoride content in the local drinking water is low, you can brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste to supplement the teeth's need for fluoride.

6. Develop a good habit of brushing your teeth in the morning and evening

Children should be taught to develop the habit of brushing their teeth morning and evening from an early age. It is better to choose a small toothbrush with soft bristles. When brushing, brush vertically along the gaps between teeth. Never brush horizontally in a sawing motion. If the habit is formed, the gums at the roots of the teeth will be worn down when they reach a certain age, exposing the dentin, causing the teeth to lose protection and become more susceptible to corrosion.