5 ways to avoid cavities in kids

Tooth cavity is something every kid come across. It’s the bacteria that builds upon a tooth’s white, hard outer covering called enamel. When the teeth are not cleaned properly after eating, the food particles get stuck on the teeth which cause cavity inducing acids that are produced by the bacteria. 

Here are very common in children and therefore precautions are needed to prevent cavities from prevailing.

1) Reducing the intake of candies

An average kid consumes sugar more than other foods overall in the day. But kids under two should not have sugar intake at all. A study shows kids intake sugars more than an average adult. That's all on the adults. Parents and other elders are supposed to supervise the sugar intake in any kid's diet.

The foods or drinks we give kids are mostly made up of sugar syrups and sweets when prepared. There are different types of sugars: honey, glucose, brown sugar, sugar syrup, corn syrup, white sugar, fruit sugar, and coarse sugar.

Keep track of sugar, and don't let it exceed 25 grams per day in kids more than two years of age. Don't take more sugar in toddlers below two years of age. These can be avoided by properly checking the ingredients on any packaged foods. The sugar contents are displayed separately and can be easily differentiated.

• Added sugars are another cause and should be reduced daily. Read the nutritional facts on the labels before giving any beverages.
• Prefer milk over any other beverages. Avoid giving kids coffee, tea or any other beverages at a younger age.
• Prefer sugar substitutes instead of white, processed sugar.

2) Proper oral Hygiene

Starting dental hygiene in kids early is a good kick-start for your toddler's oral health. If not taken care of they may cause severe issues in kids' confidence and overall teeth health. It is much more important to begin brushing or wiping the teeth regularly for more healthy teeth.

• Brushing teeth twice a day is the key. In toddlers, make sure to start brushing when it starts to grow. Guide them on how to brush their teeth properly.
• For children, less than three years, use toothpaste of a size of a grain and start to brush them early on.
• Dental floss is another way to keep dental hygiene healthy. Floss your kid's teeth once a day after the age of 2.
• Ignoring the above habits increases the factors contributing to the cavity. These are the greatest techniques to monitor any early cavities and keep a child's dental hygiene reasonable.

3) Having a good healthy diet

As clearly mentioned above, sugars are the primary cause of cavities. The cavity-causing bacteria thrive on sweets. Therefore parents should opt for healthier diets which consist of healthy or natural sugars like fruits and milk with water. As there may be other factors also causing cavities other than sugars, a healthy diet may improve any defects naturally.

• Consuming foods rich in fiber can improve dental health drastically. A study by ADA (American Dental Association) states that fibers keep the gums and teeth clean as they improve saliva flow. Sweet foods reduce the acids and enzymes primarily used to calcify the teeth and gum health.
• Milk, cheese and other dairy products are also good producers of saliva. They carry rich calcium and phosphate enzymes to the teeth and help maintain oral health.
• Nuts such as raisins contain polyphenols that control the enzymes produced by the bacteria from reaching or staying on teeth or gums. They are also rich in nutrients to keep the teeth and gum healthy.
• Green peas also contain polyphenols that reduce the bacteria build enzymes from cavity creation.
• Intake of healthy fish and poultry improves the promotion of essential minerals and vitamins needed for excellent tooth health.

4) Taking Fluoride rich water intake

Fluoride intake can significantly improve oral health. It has minerals that play a significant role in preventing tooth decay. And therefore, it's called the natural cavity fighter since it's majorly available in drinking water. They are also available in powder forms and can be mixed with ordinary water and consumed.

• Foods such as poultry, seafood and cereals are rich in fluoride.
• Fluoride in dental health can also be increased by taking fluoride supplements. They come in tablets or drops and are consumed with a dentist's prescription when there is a shortage of fluoride in drinking water.
• The fluoride keeps the tooth enamel strong; therefore, it becomes easy to resist the bacteria from developing into the roots.
• Also, as mentioned above, fluoride toothpaste can be a great advantage in tooth decay prevention and the use of fluoride consisting of dental flosses o other products.
• Intake of constant fluoride consumption through diets can be of great advantage.

 5) Starting dental visits early on

Taking your little champ to a pediatric dentist periodically can be more beneficial than you expect. It can also prevent tooth and dental issues from getting too worse. Rather than assuming and working on kids' dental on our own, it's always better to seek professional guidance. It also helps in clearing all the concerns of our kids' teeth and keeping track from an early stage. Dental records account for significant needs and are always recommended.

• The professional may be of great help to avoid tooth decay with treatment such as with the help of fluoride applications and dental sealants.
• Make the kids understand visiting a dentist is fun and make a habit of that. 
• Ensure the kid is familiar with the dentist and other practitioners present for any appointment.

Therefore, keeping in mind all the above factors, your child's dental health is an excellent precaution for any severe conditions or other problems of teeth cavity and other queries.