Why Does My Child Have Cavities?

The Common Cause of Cavities

If you’re among the thousands of parents who has learned lately that your child has a cavity or two, it’s likely you’re wondering what happened, especially if you’ve stressed the importance of good brushing habits, or you check your children’s teeth after brushing to ensure they’ve done a good job.

Unfortunately, the common cause of cavities isn’t visible to the human eye. Tooth decay  (or cavities) takes place in a tooth when the tooth’s enamel has been compromised, resulting in a hole or tooth cavity.

The primary cause of tooth decay is bacteria that eat the same foods we do and thrive on sugars in foods and drinks. These harmful bacteria release acids, responsible for the breakdown of minerals in children’s teeth.

Good Ways to Avoid Cavities

Brushing twice daily for two to three minutes is the first step in keeping teeth healthy and cavity free. The length of time spent brushing is an area that is commonly overlooked. When brushing, sometimes two to three minutes seems awfully long. The best way to be sure your kids are brushing long enough is to use a timer.

Flossing is another key. If we parenting think brushing for two to three minutes is a chore, then flossing is generally problematic. Flossing is important because it helps release food particles lodged between teeth and below the gum line. Removing these bits of food means you’re not leaving behind food for the harmful bacteria to munch away.

Add Probiotics

Formulated to compete with harmful bacteria both for nutrients and for space, oral probiotics for children, are naturally pushing out harmful bacteria. Using oral care probiotics twice daily will keep their populations high enough to keep harmful bacteria in check.

Don’t let a little cavity scare you too much – consider it a wake-up call that your children’s teeth need a little more TLC.

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