What Causes Cavities in Toddlers?
No one looks forward to having a cavity. They can be uncomfortable, sensitive, and not an overall great experience. It can be especially frustrating when your child seems to keep getting cavities, despite your efforts to keep their teeth clean.
At Sandcreek Dental, we are equipped with the knowledge and tools to help you know what could be causing cavities and how to prevent them in your toddler. This blog will dive deeper into those risk factors and the preventative measures that can decrease the likelihood of your toddler getting cavities.
The Process of How Cavities Form
When acid and bacteria sit on the teeth, it can cause plaque buildup. This can begin to eat away at the tooth enamel, making it weaker until a small hole or opening forms. That is the beginning stage of a cavity, and if not taken care of quickly, it can worsen into tooth decay in the deeper areas. Some of the major factors that can cause this to happen are discussed below.
Risk Factors for Cavities in Toddlers
Numerous different factors can play a role in your toddler’s oral health and cavity formation. From factors within their nutrition, environment, genetics, and habits, any of these things can affect why they may be experiencing cavities.
1. Nutrition and Diet
The harmful acids and bacteria that eat away at your teeth often feed off of sugars. These sugars don’t just come from foods high in sugar. Foods that are highly processed or include large amounts of starch can also harbor harmful bacteria. If they are left in the mouth for long periods without being cleaned, that is when they can start to attack and damage your child’s enamel.
2. Hygiene Habits
If your child isn’t building healthy oral hygiene habits early on, they will likely carry that on as they get older. Not taking care of your child’s oral hygiene can result in plaque buildup, weakened enamel, and poor hygiene habits in the future.
3. Oral Health Genetics
Sometimes you can take amazing care of your child’s teeth, but they still seem to get cavities. This can be a genetic factor playing a role. Genetics can affect the strength of enamel and saliva composition. Simply put, oral genetic makeup may increase the likelihood of certain children developing cavities over others.
4. Baby Tooth Enamel
The baby teeth that toddlers develop before permanent ones come in don’t have as strong of enamel. This can make their teeth more susceptible to cavities as it’s harder to fight off bacteria.
5. Saliva Production
Saliva plays a big role in cavity development. It protects the teeth and can wash away food or other particles. When saliva production is reduced, usually from mouth breathing while sleeping, can increase the risk of having cavities.
Preventative Measures
After carefully considering the risk factors that could be causing cavities, let’s take a look at some things you can do to mitigate the risk. These can include:
- Establishing yearly checkups and cleanings with a pediatric dentist
- Avoiding sugary drinks and highly processed food throughout the day (limit them to meals where your child can brush their teeth after)
- Building a good oral hygiene routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing
Don’t wait to develop good dental habits for your toddlers. Knowing what can cause cavities and taking proactive steps to prevent them can save your child’s oral health in the long run. Contact Sandcreek Dental today if you have any further questions.
