A patient talking with a team member in the chair during a dental exam visit at Broadway Dentistry in Fort Wayne

How to Prevent Cavities

Childhood cavities (also called childhood tooth decay or caries) are common worldwide and have two main causes: poor dental hygiene and sugary diets. A balanced diet, a sound home care routine and pediatric dental visits twice a year are key to preventing them.

What causes cavities?

Untreated cavities can be very painful and lead to tooth decay and childhood periodontitis. After eating, sugars and carbohydrates (like those in white bread) collect on the teeth and plaque forms. Bacteria in the plaque feed on the sugar and release acid that weakens the enamel and, if left, erodes deeper into the tooth.

Although primary (baby) teeth are eventually lost, they do important work and need protecting. Children should brush and floss at least twice a day and have cleanings twice a year; the dentist may also apply a sealant or provide fluoride supplements.

Dr. Acosta reviewing a patient chart with her team at Broadway Dentistry, a general dentistry office in Fort Wayne, Indiana

How will I know if my child has a cavity?

Large cavities can be extremely painful, while tiny ones, or those between the teeth, may not be felt or seen. Dental X-rays and the dentist’s trained eye find even the smallest cavities before they worsen. If your child has any of these symptoms, see the dentist promptly; waiting makes the problem worse and can cost a tooth that could have been saved.

Schedule an Appointment

Sensitivity to cold or warm foods
Waking and crying at night
Pain
Sensitivity to spicy foods
Toothache

Dr. Denise Acosta and a team member laughing with a young patient in a treatment room at Broadway Dentistry in Fort Wayne, where fillings and crowns are done

How can I prevent cavities at home?

Analyze the dietSwap sugary or starchy snacks for natural foods and soda for water.
Cut the snacksSave sugar and starch for mealtimes, when saliva flows more, and make sure your child drinks enough water to rinse the teeth.
Lose the sippy cupUsed past about twelve months, it keeps sugary liquid swirling around the teeth and can cause “baby bottle tooth decay”.
Avoid stickinessSticky foods like toffee form plaque quickly and are hard to remove.
Rinse the pacifierParents can pass oral bacteria to a baby, so rinse a dirty pacifier under running water instead of sucking it clean.
Drinks at bedtimeMilk, formula, juice or sweetened water left in a bedtime bottle or sippy cup sits on the teeth all night; give the last drink before bed, then brush.
Don’t sweeten the pacifierComfort a cranky child with a blanket, toy or hug, not honey.
Brush and flossBrush and floss your child’s teeth twice a day until age seven; younger children can’t clean every area well.
Check on fluorideFluoride strengthens enamel, but too much or too little can harm the teeth, so ask the dentist for an assessment.
Keep to appointmentsThe AAPD recommends a first dental visit around the first birthday, then a regular schedule.