Good oral hygiene removes bacteria and the leftover food particles that combine to create cavities. The main reason for tooth decay in kids is poor oral hygiene.
A good combination of proper brushing, a healthy diet and regular visits to the dentist can prevent tooth cavities in kids.
Healthy eating habits result in healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, teeth also need a well-balanced diet. Frequent snacking is bad for teeth. Fibrous food, fruits and vegetables make a better snack than starch and sticky food. Also, one should avoid giving sugary and aerated soft drinks to kids.
Caries prevention starts from early days for infants. Use wet gauze or clean washed cloth to clean plaque from teeth. One should avoid putting their children to bed with a bottle filled with milk or fruit juices. For little older children, brush their teeth twice a day. Also, several snacks containing sugary food should be restricted. Generally, we recommend a visit to the dentist every six months starting from the first birthday. If caries are found, preventive treatments are recommended.
Now let’s come to some preventive treatments pit and fissure sealants.
Pit and fissure sealants: It’s a tooth-colored material that is applied on top or chewing surfaces of back teeth. Back teeth mean molars have deep grooves, which are required for proper chewing. Due to its depth, food gets stuck very easily in those grooves, which at times regular brushing doesn’t remove and makes the tooth more prone to caries. Pit and fissure sealants seal those deep grooves by forming a coating on the tooth and thus protect the teeth from getting decayed
Fluoride therapy:
Fluoride is an element. It is found that when it comes in contact with enamel it has a beneficial effect on teeth.
It improves resistance against the acid formed by bacteria in the mouth and thus strengthens the tooth enamel.
Most ideally, fluoridated drinking water is recommended, but due to the vast difference in regional geography in India, it’s not possible. So along with fluoridated toothpaste, fluoride treatment is recommended every six months to help strengthen any weak areas of teeth. The gel is applied on teeth and it is advised not to eat or drink anything pot this treatment for two hours.
Mouthguard and Pre-orthodontic treatment: Injuries can occur when a child participates in sports or recreational activities. Such stock mouth guards prevent injuries can prevent injuries to teeth, gums and jaw. Milk teeth are important for developing facial structures like the jaw, facial muscles; they also guide permanent teeth to eruption. So when baby teeth are lost, he or she may require a space maintainer to guide the eruption of permanent teeth. Space Maintainer is an appliance made up of acrylic or metal. Orthodontic (Braces) treatment and space maintainer play a vital role in keeping proper oral health.
Now let’s discuss restorative treatment.
If parents report to the dentist with existing pain or caries problems of kids, restorative treatments like tooth-colored cement or resin fillings are advised, which can prevent further tooth decay.
As mentioned earlier, milk teeth are pathways for permanent tooth eruption, in case of severe caries or swelling due to infection, root canal treatment of milk teeth is done to save the tooth. As per area specification, metal or ceramic caps or crowns are advised to strengthen the remaining tooth.
Root canal treatment and crown is a completely safe procedure in kids, generally is done under local anesthesia or in some cases sedation anesthesia.
Treatment protocols may differ if the child is having a pre-existing illness, which parents need to inform to treating doctor before the start of any treatment.
