As parents, we do everything we can to make sure our children eat healthy foods. Avoiding sugary cereals, cookies, candies, and fried foods are par for the course for parents who want what is best for their child. A poor diet can reap a host of bad outcomes with children. Specifically, a poor diet can increase behavioral issues, impact sleep, and lead to obesity if not caught and corrected early. A poor diet can also lead to tooth decay.<\/p>\n
Tooth decay occurs when germs within the mouth create plaque on the surface of the tooth. These germs love the sugars that are highly prevalent in certain foods and beverages. With the continued consumption of these items, the plaque starts to eat away at the tooth\u2019s surface. When this happens, we all know the outcome: the dreaded cavity.<\/p>\n
Tooth decay causes discomfort and infection and, in extreme cases, can affect your youngster\u2019s growth. Many parents don\u2019t understand that even decay in your child\u2019s baby teeth can lead to other health concerns.<\/p>\n
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, left untreated, cavities can lead to various childhood challenges. From speech delays, eating disorders, and learning challenges, children with poor oral hygiene<\/a> practices and a high number of cavities often miss more school time than kids that have good dental habits.<\/p>\n Further, the entire process of correcting a cavity can have negative implications on a child. Think about it: what adult would ever tell you they enjoy having a cavity filled? Seriously, getting a filling is not a pleasant experience. We may be pediatric dentists, but we won\u2019t take it personally when you can list hundreds of things you would rather do. Imagine what this experience is like for a child who is still impressionable and forming their opinions about various life experiences.<\/p>\n Children who have cavities early in life often create negative perceptions about their dentists, leading to poor habits down the road. Those with dental problems when they are young are ironically far less likely to seek dental care when they are older.<\/p>\n To be clear, teeth damaged by cavities can lead to the following issues:<\/p>\n Though your child\u2019s baby teeth are temporary, this doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t need to be adequately cared for. Failure to care for your baby teeth<\/a> can create long-term negative ramifications.<\/p>\n Tooth decay is a very common childhood disease<\/a> and is believed to affect one in seven 3- to 5-year-olds. Parents should watch for the following symptoms:<\/p>\n Helping your child take care of their teeth is a daily exercise that shouldn\u2019t be taken lightly. Though brushing and flossing after meals are two of the best things you can do, it isn\u2019t always possible to do so, especially for young kids. If this is the case for you and your child, there are other strategies you can implement to promote healthy teeth.<\/p>\n One of the best things you can do is see your dentist regularly. This isn\u2019t intended to be a shameless plug for Pediatric Dentist Specialists<\/a>; one of the best ways to ensure good oral health is to get regular cleanings. Your dentist will assess your child\u2019s oral health and will be able to identify early warning signs. Though we like to see our patient\u2019s smiling faces, dentists also like to see children regularly so kids can start to make the connection between regular dental office visits and healthy teeth.<\/p>\n Another strategy parents can take to keep their child\u2019s mouth healthy is to serve them foods that promote remineralization<\/a>. This is the process your body employs to resist cavities. These foods include rhubarb, spinach, kale, white beans, pinto beans, red beans, and broccoli.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to forget the critical connection between the health of your body and the health of your mouth. After all, we go to the doctor for our bodies and the dentist for our mouths. But the last time we all checked, our mouths were a part of our bodies. Suffice it to say, there must be some connection. After all, doesn\u2019t what we put in our mouths also affect the rest of our bodies! The answer is YES!<\/p>\n\n
Symptoms of Cavities in Baby Teeth<\/h2>\n
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Preventing tooth decay in your child\u2019s teeth involves more than just brushing and flossing.<\/h2>\n
The Mouth-Body Connection<\/h2>\n