Common Reasons for Childhood Dental Cavities

Dental cavities are the most common disease affecting children in the U.S. This is a sad statistic, especially since dental cavities are preventable! Here at Piedmont Pediatric Dentistry, we believe that parents who are educated about the causes of dental disease can better care for their children’s teeth and prevent these problems from becoming a part of childhood.

Cavity-Causing Activities

Below are the most common reasons why children develop tooth cavities. As a parent, it’s important to be aware of these reasons and make sure you help your child avoid them:

• Not drinking enough water – The main beverage your child should be drinking is water. Milk is important for building strong, healthy teeth and bones, but water should still be the primary beverage in your home. Fruit juice contains almost as much sugar as soda, so we recommend avoiding having these drinks in the home.  
• Not brushing twice per day – The best way to avoid dental cavities is to practice good at-home dental health care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that children should brush twice a day for two minutes at a time with fluoride toothpaste. Make sure the entire surface of each of your child’s teeth is brushed, including the backs of the teeth.
• Too much sugar – Lastly, when your child consumes too much sugar, the bacteria in the mouth feed off of it too create acids. These acids eat away at the tooth enamel, causing it to weaken and wear away. Limit the amount of sugar your child eats and cut back on fruit juices and soda.

The best way to fight cavities is through proper dental care. Your child should be visiting our office every six months for a dental cleaning and a checkup. Your child’s checkup allows us to catch any potential dental problems before they have time to cause too much damage.

To make an appointment for your child, please contact Piedmont Pediatric Dentistry here in Greensboro, North Carolina.