How to Prevent Cavities for Yourself and Your Child by Dr. Stephanie DeFilippo

How to Prevent Cavities for Yourself and Your Child
by Dr. Stephanie DeFilippo

Most people are aware of the things they must do and avoid to prevent cavities, but I want to highlight the major points.  First of all, brushing 2-3 times a day for two minutes using fluoride toothpaste is a must.  After a day of eating, your teeth need to be cleaned before bedtime.  If not, all of the bacteria will adhere to your teeth and start breaking down the enamel causing cavities, or decalcification.  Please remember to also brush your children’s teeth.  Most children still need help properly brushing their teeth up to the age of 7.

    Second, flossing is needed to clean the areas of your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.  You can floss as much as you would like, but your dentist wants you to floss every night to prevent cavities between your teeth and to keep your gums healthy.  Your children also need help flossing.  Some kids have wide gaps between all of their teeth, but these gaps close and some kids don’t have these gaps at all.  Your dental hygienist can show you how to floss your own and your children’s teeth.

    Third, fluoride is needed to keep teeth healthy and strong.  Most toothpaste has fluoride in their ingredients.  Fluoride can stop new cavities from forming and help remineralize the little ones that have already formed.  Most cities have fluoride in the water supply.  Gettysburg does not have fluoridated water.  The first step is to find out if there is fluoride in your water source.  With this knowledge, talk to your dental provider and determine if your children need a supplement during the years when their permanent teeth are forming.  This would be ingested fluoride helping the teeth that are forming.  The other fluoride source is topical.  This is the “fluoride treatment” after your dental cleaning.  This helps keep the teeth that are already in your mouth cavity free.

    Fourth, sealants are recommended for your children’s molars when they erupt.  Sealant is a material that flows into the grooves of your molars and make the area smooth thus preventing cavities from forming by making it easier to keep these teeth clean.  A child can still get a cavity in a sealed tooth.  If a person eats lots of sticky candies, or chews on ice, etc. it can break off the sealants (or parts of the sealant) letting the bacteria reach the grooves.  Your dental professional will check the sealants to make sure that the sealants are not breaking down.  At this time, your dentist will determine if the area can be sealed again, or if a cavity is already formed.  Sealants in combination with the above mentioned prevention would make sure your child stays cavity free.

    Fifth, the sugar contained in soda combines with bacteria on the teeth to produce acid that eat away a tooth’s protective enamel.  Diet soda is worse because it has its own acid that erodes enamel.  With both drinks, the acid lasts for about 20 minutes and starts over again when you take another sip.  Soda isn’t the only sugary drink.  Please limit drinking other sugary liquids like sports drinks.

    Last, and the thing that ties all of the above together are regular dental visits.  When you visit your dentist every 6 months, they are able to assess your situation and offer guidance and treatment to keep your teeth healthy. 

Stephanie DeFilippo, DDS is a pediatric dentist at Drs. Seidel and DeFilippo and Dental Associates.

Drs. Seidel and DeFilippo and Dental Associates.

353 York Street Front
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 334-8193