Children's tooth decay

Generally, children's first tooth comes out at 6 to 8 months, and then other teeth will grow out one after another. The teeth that grow out at this time are called deciduous teeth. When the deciduous teeth fall off, permanent teeth will grow out. Permanent teeth are stronger and sharper than deciduous teeth. If a child's deciduous teeth have cavities, when the child grows permanent teeth, it is likely that cavities will continue. So what should children do if they have cavities?

1. Deciduous teeth are fragile and more prone to tooth decay

Children's deciduous teeth have a low degree of calcification, an uneven surface, and are accompanied by many micropores. The grooves, pits and spots on the occlusal surfaces of young permanent teeth are numerous and deep, so bacteria can easily adhere to the surface of the teeth. Even worse, they may remain in the gaps between teeth, forming dental plaque, which can cause tooth decay unknowingly.

2. Loving snacks is the culprit

Parents cannot stop children's love for snacks, and children's favorite snacks are mostly artificial saccharin products such as candies, cakes, and carbonated drinks. This type of food contains high levels of saccharin, which remains in children's mouths and can easily erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay.

3. Brushing teeth is difficult and children don’t like to brush their teeth

You should start brushing your teeth when the first baby tooth grows out, and the good habit of brushing your teeth every day should start from an early age. However, children are young and have poor hands-on skills, so it is basically impossible for them to brush their teeth after eating snacks. Bacteria remain in the mouth and tooth decay occurs.

4. Not enough time and substandard brushing methods

Parents do not pay strict attention to the time their children brush their teeth, and many children just brush their teeth perfunctorily. In fact, children need to brush their teeth for 2-3 minutes to remove bacterial residues and dental plaque. Most people use the sawing horizontal brushing method that parents often teach them. However, this is the most damaging method of brushing to tooth enamel and accelerates tooth decay.

When parents are not paying attention, tooth decay will come knocking. Parents should cultivate good habits of brushing teeth in their children and help them take care of their teeth from an early age.

① When the first baby tooth grows, parents need to brush the baby's teeth with gauze or a fingertip toothbrush. When all the baby teeth grow, let the baby develop the habit of brushing teeth.

② Limit the amount of snacks children eat. They should develop a habit of rinsing their mouths and brushing their teeth after eating snacks or meals.

③ Brush your teeth according to the time and method prescribed by experts, and brush your teeth scientifically.

④ Take your children to have regular dental checkups, every 3-6 months, to prevent tooth decay and detect it in time.

⑤ Cultivate the awareness of caring for teeth from an early age and develop a good habit of brushing teeth. Also take your children for regular oral examinations to prevent problems before they occur.