Why We Need to Address Your Child’s Cavities

Little girl is having her teeth checked by dentist

Even if children have teeth that they will eventually lose, you still have to make sure that those teeth will survive until your kids’ adult teeth push them out of the gums. Having their teeth intact until that time will help ensure that there will be enough room for the adult teeth and that they will grow in correctly.

That is why if there are any signs of cavities in your child’s teeth, they should be immediately addressed!

Oral hygiene is important from the time that those tiny teeth come in. That is why you should start teaching your toddler how she can take care of her teeth.

Unfortunately, there are instances when despite your efforts to keep your young one’s teeth healthy, he or she will still end up with cavities. What should you do then? How will the cavities be addressed?

Fillings for Baby Teeth

To preserve your child’s baby teeth, the cavities could be drilled out and the teeth can be filled or crowned. The goal is to save the teeth and avoid extraction. Like we mentioned above, those baby teeth help usher the adult teeth properly so losing them before they’re ready to come out is not going to be good for your child’s permanent teeth.  Just like with adult teeth, fillings may be required for baby (primary or, first set of teeth) which is a measure taken when necessary to retain the tooth for as long as possible.   

The treatment for tooth decay includes drilling the decay from the baby tooth as needed. Now, depending on the severity of the problem (how much damage was caused by the cavity) the tooth can be filled or a crown will be created for it.

Decay Can Possibly Recur

Tooth decay can be a recurring issue, even though your child’s dentist works hard to get all the decay out. That’s why it’s really important that your child establishes good oral hygiene. When decay comes back, the filling will be removed so the new decay will be removed. The tooth will be re-filled or crowned after.

Extraction is the Last Option

While preserving baby teeth is the goal, sometimes the dentist will have no other choice but perform an extraction. This is when the decay is so advanced that it’s causing pain or gum problems. The gap where the extracted baby tooth used to be may be filled with a prosthetic to keep the correct space for the adult tooth.

It’s normal to feel anxious about getting your child’s teeth filled, but really, there is nothing to worry about. We at Pickering Square Dental will put you at ease. You can trust that we will come up with the perfect treatment plan for your child. Remember that as a parent, you should teach your child about proper oral hygiene and schedule regular teeth cleanings to avoid tooth decay!

Cavities: Myths and Facts You Should Be Aware Of

dentist's drill treating a sick tooth

Everybody, young or old, is afraid of dental cavities or what we commonly call tooth decay. Hundreds of years ago, ancient folks used to believe that worms are responsible for one’s toothaches. They are said to be boring their way into teeth. If a tooth was aching, then that only meant the worm is wiggling.

 

Now we all know that that particular story is nothing but a myth, although it still is an interesting theory that seems to work wonders with children. But while that particular myth is already established as such, there are some that still confuse us.

 

Here we will clear the air about what is factual and what is actually a myth:

 

MYTH: Only Sugar Can Cause Cavities

Here is how one opens the door to some serious cavities – You eat. Bacteria in your mouth then act on the food that you have eaten and produce acid that attacks your teeth. This bacterial activity requires carbohydrates like rice, bread, potatoes, and also sugar. Those are the primary source of energy of those bacteria. Remember that for a tooth to actually decay, four things are needed: a tooth surface, bacteria that causes caries, carbohydrates that can be fermented, and time. Sugar is not the sole culprit.

 

FACT: Acidic Foods Can Cause Cavities

Citrusy foods and juices like lemons can break down your tooth’s enamel and weaken it. Weaker teeth are more prone to decay. Like we mentioned bacteria act on food substances to produce acid, eating foods that are already acidic speeds up the process.

 

MYTH: You Shouldn’t Worry About Cavities in Baby Teeth

This cannot be farther from the truth – so please do worry! What many do not realize is that baby teeth actually keep the space in line for permanent teeth. Aside from that, cavities are a bacterial infection that when left untreated may spread into the adult teeth that are also developing underneath. Early loss of baby teeth due to a cavity blocks and disrupts the ideal eruption of the adult teeth.

 

FACT: The Decay Stops As Soon as the Tooth is Treated

A tooth is not capable of repairing itself. That is why when there is a cavity; “fillings” should cover the hole. Your dentist fills that cavity with the right amount of restorative material and the decay at that particular spot stops. However, that does not give immunity to the tooth. Without proper care, a new cavity may start to develop in the same tooth.

 

MYTH: Gaps in Between Teeth Cause Cavities

This is just a myth. In truth, it is easier to clean teeth with big gaps in between. The spaces make it harder for bacteria to reside there. Therefore it is less likely for you to get cavities.

 

FACT: You Can Actually Prevent Cavities

This is true. A cavity that is sealed on time can save a tooth. Prevention is always better than cure. You can prevent cavities from forming by brushing your teeth twice in a day, as well as flossing and rinsing.