{"id":174,"date":"2019-05-07T03:45:20","date_gmt":"2019-05-07T03:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.npdma.com\/blog\/?p=174"},"modified":"2023-06-29T14:38:26","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T14:38:26","slug":"pediatric-dentist-greenfield","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.treehousepediatricdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=174","title":{"rendered":"Discover the Causes of Cavities with Your Pediatric Dentist in Greenfield"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Although the primary teeth are only in place for a few short years, they are invaluable to your child\u2019s oral health and development. The biggest threat to their baby teeth is tooth decay. Despite being preventable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 20% of children between the ages of 5 to 11 and 13% adolescents between 12 to 19 years of age have at least one untreated cavity. To help keep your child\u2019s teeth strong and healthy, it\u2019s vital to learn what causes tooth decay in the first place. With the right oral hygiene habits at home and regular care from their pediatric dentist in Greenfield, you can save their smile from cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Causes Tooth Decay?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A cavity doesn\u2019t form overnight. Instead, it\u2019s a gradual\nprocess that often results from poor oral hygiene habits or techniques. Throughout\nthe day, a sticky biofilm called plaque accumulates on the teeth. Bacteria found\nnaturally in the mouth thrive on plaque. When your child consumes sugary foods\nand drinks, it causes the bacteria to turn to an acid when it combines with their\nsaliva. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it sits on their teeth, it slowly eats away at the hard\nouter layer of their tooth called the enamel. Eventually, a small hole develops.\nDuring this early stage of decay, the cavity can be treated easily with a filling.\nUnfortunately, if your child doesn\u2019t visit their dentist regularly, it can\ncause the cavity to go undetected and untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, the decay will extend to the softer layer of the\ntooth underneath the enamel called the dentin. The bacteria will continue to destroy\ntheir tooth until it reaches the inner layer, known as the pulp. This is the nerve\ncenter of the tooth. If it becomes infected by the bacteria, it causes\nsignificant pain. Now, your child is at risk of losing their tooth if it isn\u2019t\ntreated quickly with a root canal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Prevent Cavities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although tooth decay is common, there are several things you\ncan do to keep your child\u2019s smile cavity-free:<\/p>\n\n\n\n