10 Tips on Cavity Prevention For Kids: How to Prevent Cavities in Kids at Any Age
Your kid is afraid of the dentist as is. The idea of having to drill into their teeth to fill a cavity is a nightmare. Cavity prevention for kids is something on every parent’s mind, so we put together this guide on how to prevent cavities in kids at any age.
It’s mostly stuff you already know, to be entirely transparent. Brush twice a day, every day. Start flossing early on. Make better food choices, and always rinse after eating/drinking. But there are a few other things you can do to help prevent cavities in children, including upgrading to a better toothpaste such as the LIVFRESH Kids+ Toothpaste formula. Getting sealants helps, too.
Learn more about how to prevent cavities in children below and enjoy less stressful dental visits!
Key Takeaways
- Cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease in the United States.
- Preventing cavities in children starts with dietary changes. Minimizing what plaque bacteria feed on can make a big difference.
- A good plaque-removal toothpaste and twice-daily brushing are the foundation of cavity prevention for kids.
- Flossing and mouthwash can help fill in the gaps in your child’s oral care routine.
- Regular dentist visits are non-negotiable. Your child’s dentist can clue you in to trouble areas so you can adjust at-home care as needed.
Understanding the Root Cause of Cavities
In the simplest sense, cavities are tooth decay. They can be traced back to plaque, the sticky biofilm that starts forming on teeth within hours of brushing.
Plaque feeds on the sugars and starches that linger behind on tooth surfaces after you eat or drink. A byproduct of plaque consuming those sugars/starches is acid, and that acid attacks the tooth enamel.
This is something that even adults have to manage, but it’s particularly tricky for children because they have thinner enamel that’s more susceptible to wearing down.
One big misconception we want to clear up. A cavity in a baby tooth is not harmless just because the tooth is going to fall out anyway. Infection can spread to the gum tissue and potentially even break down the permanent tooth developing underneath.
How to Prevent Cavities in Kids: 10 Tips on Cavity Prevention For Kids
Understanding how to prevent cavities in kids starts with the plaque cycle: food residue feeds bad bacteria, which produces acid, and the acid breaks down enamel. Thus, a lot of our tips on cavity prevention for kids go back to removing plaque on teeth at home.
1. Rinse After Eating/Drinking Anything
You should encourage your child to thoroughly rinse their mouth with water anytime they’re done eating or drinking anything. Fewer food particles or drink residue means less fuel for plaque bacteria. It will also help neutralize the acids already forming in their mouth.
Rinsing isn’t a replacement for brushing - but it does buy you some time between brushings. It’s a really great way to minimize the risk of cavity formation in children who love to graze throughout the day.
2. Rethink Their Diet
Sticky candies, fruit snacks, crackers, cookies, juice boxes, soda - these are some of the biggest cavity culprits kids love to eat. They’re notorious for clinging to tooth surfaces and giving bacteria hours of their favorite fuel.
Swap juice/soda for water. Replace gummy snacks with cheese, nuts, or raw veggies. Your child might think you’re sucking all the fun out of their diet, but this is just one of the many things they’ll thank you for when they’re all grown up.
3. Twice-Daily Brushing is Non-Negotiable
This is one of those tips on how to prevent cavities in kids that you know, yet may not be as firm about as you should be. Plaque starts building up within hours of the last brushing. This means the more often your child brushes, the less time plaque has to wreak havoc.
Twice daily is the bare minimum. It’s not a bad idea to encourage your kiddo to brush their teeth midway through the day, too. After lunch is a good opportunity. Two minutes per brushing.
Technique matters more than most parents realize. It’s a good refresher for your own oral hygiene, too. Angle the bristles at 45 degrees to the gum line and use short, gentle strokes. Don’t forget the tongue, either! Bacteria love to hide in that textured surface.
Plan on brushing for your child until they’re around the age of six. Some dentists say you can let them take over once they’re able to tie their own shoes or neatly write out their own name.
4. Get Your Child a Better Toothpaste (Not the Drugstore Junk)
If you only leave here with one tip on cavity prevention for kids, let it be this. Your child needs more than what the kids' formulas at your drugstore provide.
There are two things to think about here - what actually works to prevent cavities and what your child can commit to using twice daily. Very few formulas check both those boxes. LIVFRESH is a great toothpaste to prevent cavities because it does exactly that.
It’s powered by a patented ingredient called Activated Edathamil, which is backed by 40 studies. It dissolves plaque on a molecular level and leaves behind a negative surface charge so new plaque can’t stick as easily. It’s capable of removing plaque up to 250% better than a leading ADA alternative.
Kids love the pink bubblegum flavor and the low-foam texture with zero abrasives. It’s entirely safe if swallowed, too, so you can let your child use it with peace of mind.
5. Start Flossing ASAP
Your child should begin flossing once they have two teeth touching one another. Food gets trapped in the nooks and crannies between teeth and no amount of brushing can dislodge it. This is something that should be done at least once a day. Get your kid some floss picks. They’re a lot easier to use than string floss.
6. Invest in an Electronic Toothbrush
A manual toothbrush introduces more room for error as far as technique goes. An electric toothbrush does all the heavy lifting, which matters when the person holding it is 6 years old and doesn’t even want to be brushing in the first place! A lot of toothbrushes these days have a built-in timer so your child doesn’t have to think about how long they’ve been brushing, too.
7. Talk to Your Dentist About Sealants
Your dentist may advocate for applying a thin coating to the chewing surfaces of back molars, where most cavities form, once the permanent molars are in. These sealants fill in the grooves that trap food and plaque. They essentially create a smoother surface that’s easier to clean. They’re painless, last for years, and are one of the best tips on cavity prevention for kids.
8. Start Using a Mouthwash When the Time is Right
Most dentists will say you should hold off on mouthwash until the age of six when kids can be trusted to swish and spit without swallowing. But when the time comes, consider a plaque removal mouthwash like the one at LIVFRESH. This is another once-daily habit to get your child in early on, so that it sticks. Twice daily is even better.
9. Try to Avoid Sharing Utensils or Straws With Your Kid
We know you love to share food and drink with your little one. But you could be putting them at risk by doing so. Cavity-causing bacteria like Streptococcus mutans transfer through saliva, and your child is more vulnerable to these than you are.
10. Get Dental Checkups Twice a Year
One more word on how to prevent cavities in kids - get them to see their dentist at least once a year. Ideally, twice a year. Professional cleanings can remove the tough tartar that builds up as plaque hardens. Your dentist can also spot warning signs so you can help refocus your child’s oral care if need be.
But, cavity prevention for kids mostly starts at home with what they eat, how they brush their teeth, and the extent to which they fill in the gaps through flossing and rinsing. Keep cavities at bay with these 10 tips and enjoy happier dentist checkups!
Related Resources
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