Cavities, or caries, are one of the most common health issues in children. While oral health is often overlooked, frequent cavities can cause pain and lead to infections if they go untreated. This can lead to issues with activities of everyday life, such as trouble speaking, focusing in school, and an unwillingness to play. Bad oral health in children is linked to lower grades in school due to children having to miss school more often for cavity repair and related visits to the doctor.
South Africa experiences a high amount of dental cavities that go untreated in children, particularly in children that still have their primary (baby) teeth. This can lead to an inability or unwillingness to eat in young children, causing nutrition to drop and increasing the potential for overall failure to thrive.
While cavities can cause a multitude of health issues and impact overall quality of life, they are also preventable. Discuss treatments such as fluoride varnish or applying dental sealants to the back teeth with your dentist. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and eating leafy greens are all ways you can help prevent cavities at home.
Oral health support for children begins before they’re born. Pregnant women are more prone to cavities and gum disease, and this can affect the health of your baby as well. When you’re pregnant, it’s important to continue to see your dentist and brush and floss your teeth twice a day.
Oral health support continues once your baby is born. Here are some ways you can support the oral health of your baby up to age 2:
When the first teeth begin to appear, you can ask your dentist about transitioning to fluoride toothpaste.
As your child continues to grow, you can help them form a regular brushing routine. By the time they’re old enough to brush their teeth on their own, it should be something they do without thinking about it.
Here are some ways to support your child’s oral health:
If your tap water does not contain fluoride and/or isn’t safe to drink, you can ask your dentist about fluoride tablets to dissolve in water or fluoride supplements.
There are many measures that can be taken to prevent cavities from occurring. However, it’s also important to be aware of lifestyle and genetic factors that put your child more at risk. If people in your family are prone to cavities, your child drinks or eats an excessive amount of sugary food, they wear braces or a similar device, or they have a chronic health condition, they are more likely to develop cavities and other oral health issues.