7 Tips To Help Prevent Cavities
At Dr. Jin’s San Ramon family dental office, we specialize in gentle dentistry techniques and take pride in educating our patients about the best ways to create healthier teeth and gums. We’re pleased to provide dental care so that you can avoid unnecessary tooth decay and unwanted procedures that can come with cavities. Dr. Carol Jin, DDS, encourages creating good dental habits early on to maintain a healthy smile for years to come. We offer parents essential advice to help their kids prevent cavities.
Preventing Cavities In Kids
As a family dentist, Dr. Carol Jin regularly recommends these seven tips to keep your child’s mouth healthy:
- Reduce or avoid sugary foods, particularly sugar-laced drinks such as soda and fruit juice. Many parents unknowingly provide their children with apple juice as a health food when in fact apple juice is one of the major contributors to childhood tooth decay.
- Thirsty? Drink water. This is the cheapest and easiest way to keep acid and bacteria at bay throughout the day.
- Increase consumption of veggies and fresh fruits. These foods have a high water content which means they will reduce thirst while increasing saliva production reducing the chances of bacteria sticking to their teeth.
- Limit sticky, sugary foods that cling to the teeth. Examples include caramel, taffy, and honey.
- Regular brushing is a must. Start good hygiene early on by teaching your child to brush after every meal or snack.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste to increase dental enamel protection against bacteria and erosion.
- Regular dental check-ups with a family dentist. Oh, did we already say that? Well, it’s that important! Scheduling two visits per year is important in ensuring that toddlers are properly maintaining their teeth and cavities are prevented.
Fight Childhood Tooth Decay Today
You can reduce your child’s risk of cavities by creating good habits that center around prevention. Poor dental hygiene can lead to cavities or even worse conditions such as childhood periodontitis. This is a serious problem and something no parent (or child) wants to battle. Contact Dr. Carol Jin at our San Ramon office to schedule a checkup and start your child on the road to dental success.