Dealing With Your Child’s First Cavity

Cavities are extremely common among children and even babies. This is because baby teeth are much softer than adult teeth and it’s easier for the bacteria and acids to eat away at these vulnerable teeth, creating cavities. If food and plaque are not regularly brushed and flossed away from your child’s teeth, their risk of developing a cavity increases dramatically.

If you think your child may have a cavity, we hope this post will help you understand the signs you should be looking for and the next steps you need to take:

Signs & Symptoms Of A Cavity

The very first sign of a dental cavity in a child will be a chalky white spot on the tooth. If left untreated, this spot will change color, often brown or yellow, and will become darker and darker until it turns into a cavity. Once the cavity has formed, your child will feel discomfort or pain when brushing and some sensitivity to hot or cold foods.

What To Do If You Suspect A Cavity

If you think your child may have a cavity, the first thing you need to do is set up an appointment with our office. Until your appointment can be made, make sure you’re brushing your child’s teeth twice a day (make sure you’re using fluoride toothpaste) and flossing at least once a day. Even if your child isn’t feeling pain, the decay could still be advancing. If the white spots are caught early enough, we may even be able to prevent the cavity from forming at all.

What To Expect At Our Office

If you bring your child in and it’s found that he or she does indeed have a cavity the dentist will remove the decayed part of the tooth and add a filling in its place. Once the cavity has been taken care of, it’s very important to us that we educate both the child and the parent on how to best prevent any future cavities. We will provide you with tips on how to avoid decay and help your child maintain a healthy smile.

Cavities are perhaps the most common health issue among small children, and we don’t want you to feel bad if your child has formed a cavity! So, if you do believe that your child may need a filling, please contact Great Outdoors Pediatric Dentistry today! Our helpful and friendly staff will help put you and your child at ease. Please call our office, located in Dover, New Hampshire, to make your appointment.