Tips to help Prevent Cavities in Children

Keeping baby teeth

Keeping baby teeth for as long as possible helps maintain the path and position for the adult teeth when its due to come through, therefore, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and have good oral hygiene habits to prevent cavities in teeth.  Regular checks at the dentist will help catch cavities when they are small.

Baby brushing his own teeth
Young child at the dentist

Here’s how to keep cavities away:

  1. Start good oral habits early. Teach kids to brush at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss regularly.
  2. Get enough fluoride. Regular use of fluoride toughens the enamel, making it harder for acid-rich foods to attack or penetrate the enamel.
  3. Limit or avoid some sugary foods if they have sweets to eat. Clean the teeth directly afterwards.
  4. Ideally, parents help clean their children’s teeth until they can use a toothbrush correctly.
  5. A regular dental check-up with the dentist, who can advise on diet and hygiene.
  6. Avoid eating or drinking after cleaning the children’s teeth.  Water is okay, though.
  7. Drink Fluoridated water, not bottled water which does not contain fluoride.
  8. Avoid sports drinks.

Can a cavity go away with brushing?

A common question we receive from children and parents is, “can you brush away a cavity?”

Once a cavity is fully formed in the tooth, it’s impossible to just improve your brushing and make it disappear. However, the early stages of a cavity can be reversed with good brushing and flossing habits, using fluoride toothpaste eating a healthy diet.