How Do I Prevent Childhood Cavities?

Tooth decay is entirely preventable with the right professional dental care and home oral care routine. It is never too early to begin caring for your child’s teeth and to get them into a regular oral care routine that will prevent cavities. This routine starts before they even have teeth.

Begin Cleaning Their Mouth After Feeding

After your baby has finished feeding, gently wipe over their gums with a clean damp washcloth or damp gauze, which will remove any sugary residue left behind by formula or milk.

When Your Baby Gets Teeth

When your baby gets teeth around age six months to a year, begin brushing them with a soft-bristled baby toothbrush and a tiny smear of toothpaste.

Ask our pediatric dentists whether you should use fluoridated toothpaste or fluoride-free toothpaste during their first dental visit with us.

We can also show you how to brush your baby’s teeth thoroughly. When your baby has enough teeth so that they begin to touch each other, you will need to start flossing between them. Again, we can show you how to do this task and provide advice on the right floss to use.

Cleaning Young Children’s Teeth

By age two, your child will be able to spit out excess toothpaste, and by age three upward, you will need to use a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste to clean their teeth. Before long, your child will want to brush their teeth on their own, but you will need to supervise them to ensure they do brush properly.

We can teach your child how to clean their teeth properly, showing them the right techniques for brushing and flossing. Dr. Tracy and Dr. Igor can also gently explain why toothbrushing and flossing are so important, so they become more educated about their dental health.

Professional Dentistry to Prevent Cavities

We suggest scheduling your child’s first dental visit by age one or as soon as their first tooth erupts.

During this visit, we can assess your child’s teeth and jaw development and their overall risk of developing cavities. We can devise a preventive dental care plan to help avoid tooth decay and which will include regular checkups and cleanings.

Regular Checkups

During regular checkups, we can gently examine each tooth for signs of softness, or for tiny pits or lesions in tooth enamel that could indicate the start of a cavity.

Sometimes early tooth decay is reversible with fluoride applications to re-harden tooth enamel. Otherwise, we can repair any cavities before they become any larger.

In our pediatric dentistry practice in Brooklyn we offer the latest dental sealants including Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) as an alternative dental caries and tooth decay treatment.

Early detection and cavity repair helps to preserve as much healthy tooth structure as possible, so that baby teeth last until they are ready to fall out naturally to make room for the adult teeth. Also, early detection hopefully prevents your child from experiencing any dental discomfort or pain. Perhaps equally importantly, a child who grows up regularly seeing a dentist is far less likely to develop any fears or phobias about dental visits in the future.

Professional Dental Cleanings

Even with an excellent brushing and flossing routine, some dental plaque is bound to be missed. Dental plaque contains harmful bacteria, and within a day or two, it hardens into calculus or tartar. You cannot remove tartar from teeth with an ordinary toothbrush or dental floss, as it must be removed professionally.

When your child has their regular dental checkups, we can “>clean their teeth professionally, getting rid of all tartar buildup and the harmful bacteria within it. Professional dental cleanings are important for adults and children alike, helping to maintain healthy teeth and gums and reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease.

A healthy, tooth-friendly diet is also essential in addition to a preventive dental care routine. We can provide you with expert advice and dental care. We take a holistic approach toward pediatric dentistry, firmly believing that a good diet and ongoing dental care helps to maintain good oral and overall health.

Pediatric Dentistry Center
2148 Ocean Ave, Ste 401A
Brooklyn, NY 11229
☎ 718-339-1810