Cavities are the unfavorable tiny holes in the teeth. Cavities develop because of acid buildup from food and drinks. Cavities usually form on the tip or in between teeth where food debris gets trapped. Cavities are white when still in their early stages. But when left untreated, these cavities turn into dark brown or black taints in the teeth. Cavities can lead to tooth sensitivity, severe pain, and infection in children’s teeth. Sometimes, children with cavities even lose their infected or decayed teeth.
Cavities are preventable through proper and regular dental hygiene. But sometimes, despite parents’ best effort in helping their children establish good dental habits, these tiny pits still find their way into little ones’ teeth. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD), our children’s baby teeth are critical for many reasons. Not only do they help our kids in eating, smiling, and speaking, they also prepare the gap or space for the permanent teeth.
It is essential to keep our kids’ primary teeth healthy until the permanent ones erupt. Premature loss of baby teeth can lead to teeth misalignment or crowding when our kids’ permanent teeth show up. Cavities can hinder the proper growth of permanent teeth. Cavities do not go away on their own and need to be treated to avoid further damage to the tooth and other surrounding teeth. That is why preserving our children’s baby teeth is crucial.
Your child’s dentist needs to fix a cavity to stop the tooth decay in your child’s teeth. Cavities in earlier stages are treated with fluoride. For bigger ones, the pediatric dentist drills the infected tooth and removes the cavities. Composite or silver fillings are applied on to the hallowed spot to fill the void. If the tooth decay is severe, a crown may need to be installed.
Teeth damaged by cavities can wreak havoc on a child’s overall growth and development. Decay-causing cavities can impact a child’s food intake and nutrition. Some holes can be so deep and harmful, especially when the bacteria from the decay reaches the tooth pulp and becomes an infection. When left untreated, severe dental infections can be life-threatening.
There are also instances when dental injuries and tooth accidents cause cavities. If a tooth is chipped or cracked, a dentist will need to treat it via dental filling to repair the broken tooth. Regular dental visits are vital to the prevention and treatment of cavities. The earlier the cavities are treated, the less pain and damage it will cause on your child’s developing teeth.
How and Why Do Dentists Fix Cavities for Children?, 123Dentist.com https://www.123dentist.com/cavities-how-do-dentists-fix-cavities-for-children/
Cavities: What are They and How Do We Prevent Them?, MouthHealthy.org https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/how-do-we-prevent-cavities
Frequently Asked Questions, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry https://www.aapd.org/resources/parent/faq/