Why Some Kids Get A Lot Of Cavities
Posted on: 21 October 2019
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Cavities are not a good thing, yet there are times when some kids will get a lot of them. If your child has experienced a lot of cavities, you might be wondering why he or she has this problem. The truth is that there can be a number of reasons that explain why this is happening to your child, and here are several things to know about kids and cavities.
Some children may have more bacteria in their mouths
For a cavity to develop on a tooth, acid must be present, as the acid is what eats at tooth structure. Acid is not something that just appears in the mouth out of nowhere, though. Instead, it is a byproduct of the bacteria found in the mouth. Bacteria feed on sugar, and this produces acid. The main type of bacteria that leads to cavity formation is called mutans streptococcus, and some children have higher levels of this bacteria than others. A child with higher levels of this particular type of bacteria will have a higher chance of getting cavities.
Some kids eat too much of the wrong things
Secondly, kids that continuously have problems with cavities might have this problem from eating the wrong things. For example, a child that eats candy every day and drinks juice every day will likely have a higher risk of getting cavities. A child that eats candy only moderately and drinks only water will likely have a lower risk of cavities forming.
Some children do not brush and floss well enough
Finally, a child's oral care habits will also affect the risks of him or her developing cavities. Brushing and flossing are absolutely vital, even for young kids, and parents will need to help their kids do these things in order to make sure they are done effectively. If your child is getting a lot of cavities, it could be from not brushing well enough. Therefore, you may want to start helping your child brush his or her teeth each day to help the child prevent more cavities from forming.
There are ways to prevent cavities with kids, and you may want to talk to your child's dentist to find out what you can do. He or she might give you tips for brushing habits and may suggest using dental sealants as a tool for cavity prevention. To learn more, contact a local pediatric dental clinic.