Cavities are nearly 100% preventable, and cavities are the most prevalent disease affecting children in the United States. Though cavities are nearly preventable, there are some activities that are worse than others which will cause cavities. Today, we at Smile Reef would like to discuss the top activities that can cause cavities.

What Happens if You Don’t Brush Your Teeth Twice a Day?

Avoiding cavities begins with proper, routine dental care. For two minutes each session, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises that everyone brushes their teeth twice per day. You can help ensure that your child is cleaning all of the bad bacteria off of their teeth and preventing cavities by brushing for the proper amount of time. Including the backs of teeth, which is often neglected, make certain that they brush the entire surface of their teeth.

Too Much Sugar Causes Dental Caries

Tooth decay can be caused by too much sugar, as most people know. How it works is when you consume sugar, bad bacteria in your mouth feeds off of it and creates acids that destroy tooth enamel. To keep their enamel strong and prevent cavities, try limiting the amount of sugar your child ingests. In order to keep teeth strong, reduce the amount of starchy carbs that they consume, like bread and chips as well. Starchy carbs eventually turn into sugar and fuel bad bacteria when left in the mouth for too long. The beverages that your child enjoys is a good place to start cutting back on sugar intake. Fruit juice, sports drinks and colas, which all contain a high amount of sugar is what you should try to avoid.

Can You Get Cavities from Not Drinking Enough Water?

About as much sugar as a bottle of cola is contained in fruit juices. It is providing sugary fuel that cavities need to thrive if your child is drinking too much fruit juice, or anything other than water. One of the best things for a healthy mouth is water. Critical in the fight against cavities is saliva, which is 99% water. It can keep their enamel strong and stay cavity-free as it makes it imperative that your child drinks plenty of water. Your child can avoid dry mouth and ensure that their saliva is produced at an optimal rate by drinking enough water.

Pediatric Dentistry

Combat cavities with efficient dental care. Once every six months for a routine checkup, your child should visit our dental office. These checkups are designed to get ahead of any oral health issues that may be occurring and helps our patients maintain a healthier smile that lasts a lifetime. In the Greater Las Vegas, NV area, we at Smile Reef are readily available to provide your kids with the best pediatric dental care available. In addition to working with infants, toddlers, children, pre-teens, and teens, our skilled staff can accommodate children with special needs such as autism, ADHD, and more. We have the equipment, training, and products to ensure your children’s oral care is done with precision and care.