{"id":107,"date":"2018-02-12T17:27:44","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T17:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.npdma.com\/blog\/?p=107"},"modified":"2023-06-29T15:16:18","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T15:16:18","slug":"tooth-decay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.treehousepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=107","title":{"rendered":"Spot the Signs of Childhood Tooth Decay"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.treehousepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/childhood-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-558\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As a parent, you strive to teach your child proper oral hygiene habits to promote a healthy, beautiful smile. Despite your best efforts, there may be a hidden danger lurking in your child\u2019s mouth\u2014tooth decay. Cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease. In fact, it is 5 times more likely than asthma. While they often occur, they are easily preventable and treatable when caught in the early stages. Unfortunately, it may not always be obvious to tell when your child has a cavity. However, you can help to spot the warning signs with simple tips.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tooth Decay in Children<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 19% of children between the ages of 2-19 currently have untreated tooth decay. In addition, 20% of children 5 to 11 years of age have already had at least one filled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The large number of untreated cavities is often due to late diagnosis. In between your child\u2019s semi-annual appointments for preventive care, they can go undetected until after significant damage has occurred. However, by learning to recognize certain symptoms that your child may be experiencing, you can help to catch tooth decay while the problem is still small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common signs of tooth decay in children often include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tooth pain or sensitivity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>White or brown spots on the surface of their teeth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventing Tooth Decay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although cavities are quite common, they are easily preventable with the right oral hygiene habits and regular appointments with their children\u2019s dentist. As soon as the first tooth erupts, it is time to start protecting your child\u2019s teeth from tooth decay. To safeguard their smile, there are simple tips that you can use at home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Brush Twice a Day:<\/strong> Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush that accommodates the size of their mouth. Brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each session using a fluoride toothpaste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Floss Daily:<\/strong> Every night before going to bed, your child should floss their teeth. Choose a high-quality dental floss that has earned the American Dental Association\u2019s Seal of Acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Visit the Dentist:<\/strong> Before your child\u2019s first birthday, they need to begin to see their dentist twice a year for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npdma.com\/check-ups-cleanings.html\">cleaning and checkup<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Choose Fluorinated Water:<\/strong> Fluoride is nature\u2019s cavity fighter. Whenever possible, it is best to encourage your child to drink tap water to help strengthen their enamel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eat Healthy:<\/strong> A well-balanced diet that is limited in sugars and starches will help to protect your child\u2019s teeth from decay. Instead, choose plenty of fruits and vegetables for a healthy smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combat Tooth Decay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to prevention at home, your dentist can also help to protect your child\u2019s smile from damage with dental sealants and fluoride varnishes. With a proactive plan, you can help to save your child\u2019s teeth from tooth decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Northampton Pediatric Dentistry PC<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npdma.com\/about-us.html\">Northampton Pediatric Dentistry PC<\/a> is committed to creating healthy smiles for our young patients. With preventive care, we can help to protect their teeth from tooth decay. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npdma.com\/contact-us.html\">Contact our office<\/a> today to schedule your child\u2019s cleaning and checkup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a parent, you strive to teach your child proper oral hygiene habits to promote a healthy, beautiful smile. Despite your best efforts, there may be a hidden danger lurking in your child\u2019s mouth\u2014tooth decay. Cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease. In fact, it is 5 times more likely than asthma. While they [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[35,36],"class_list":["post-107","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-childrens-dentist","tag-tooth-cleanings"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Prevent Tooth Decay with Your Children&#039;s Dentist Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to spot the signs of tooth decay in children. 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