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One of the goals of good dental care and hygiene is to prevent tooth decay and cavities. However, despite your best efforts, children sometimes get cavities that need to be treated. Here at Kids Plus we offer cavity treatment and prevention at our office in Lemont.
The key to preventing cavities is good oral hygiene habits from infancy. Wiping your child’s gums after feedings and then using a soft toothbrush after his or her teeth come in will prevent the build-up of bacteria. After your child’s 1st birthday, use fluoridated toothpaste. School aged children should also use fluoridated toothpaste and will need your help brushing until they reach 9 years old.
Brushing twice a day is needed to keep your child’s teeth clean and cavity-free. However, if your child eats a diet heavy in sugars – cookies, candy, fruit juices and soda – brushing after meals may be needed.
Regular dental check-ups are key to cavity prevention and treatment. At Kids Plus, our doctors will check your child’s teeth for signs of early decay and discuss any dietary or nutritional concerns you have. They will pay special attention to the molars, which are the teeth where cavities form most often in children.
Treatment of cavities is important in children, even with baby teeth. If left untreated, decay in baby teeth can affect the overall health of the child and impact the adult tooth. In addition, if baby teeth fall out too early, the spacing of the adult teeth will be affected and may require orthodontic and surgery. Very often, cavities that are found early can be treated without the use of local anesthetic.
Sealants have become a popular tool for the prevention and treatment of cavities in children. A safe, plastic coating that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, dental sealants are an effective way to prevent cavities. They coat the teeth, providing a barrier that prevents bacteria from reaching the teeth.
Sealants are recommended for use on permanent molars and premolars are often applied soon after they have erupted.
When compared to treating cavities, sealants are a cost-effective prevention option. At Kids Plus Pediatric Dentistry, our doctors will work with you to help prevent cavities in your child’s teeth. If your child develops cavities, they will treat them safely, with the most effective, least traumatic methods possible.
Dr. Fisher strives to help patients achieve optimal health by specializing in a full range of pediatric dental services that includes dental exams, emergency as well as special needs dentistry.