Tooth decay is the most known chronic disease among kids and teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Rancho Cucamonga Dentist say that even though you might affiliate the term “early tooth decay” with cavities or decay in young people, the term actually refers to a stage of tooth decay – for all age groups.
Regardless of the term’s definition, early decay is damage to the tooth’s enamel, according to the Dental Practice-Based Research Network, and it can happen with children.
The great news is that in these early stages, tooth decay is not only treatable, but it’s also reversible. Dentist In Rancho Cucamonga say the trick is knowing what to be in the look out for and what to do if you see any signs of early tooth decay.
Fluoride is Your Friend
Fluoride is one of the top defenses you and your children have against early tooth decay. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the product can reverse tooth decay in the early stages, and works mainly in two ways:
- First, it slows down mineral loss or replaces lost enamel.
- Secondly, it keeps bacteria in the mouth from producing acid that can wear away the teeth.
Dentist In Rancho Cucamonga say that you can make sure you and your family are getting a sufficient amount of fluoride in a variety of ways. One way is to drink public tap water, which may be fluoridated already.
Drinking water with fluoride lowers kids’ risk for tooth decay from 20 to 40 percent, according to the American Dental Association.
An alternative way to protect your kids’ teeth, is to use a toothpaste which has fluoride, which can assist with protecting against plaque and tartar buildup.
Ultimately, if your teeth or your children’s teeth need an extra boost of fluoride, your family dentist in Rancho Cucamonga, CA can be an active ally in the fight against early tooth decay.
Seeing The Local Rancho Cucamonga Dentist
Routine visits to the local Rancho Cucamonga Dentist don’t just help you spot and treat tooth decay before it advances; it also provides your family with professionally recommended treatment options, effectively reducing your risk of cavities.
Along with examining and cleaning your child’s teeth, your dentist might get him started with a fluoride treatment to begin strengthening the enamel and reversing tooth decay.
During a fluoride treatment at a Rancho Cucamonga Dentist’s Office, they might use a foam or gel to coat your child’s teeth, or slide a tray filled with a fluoride product into your child’s mouth.
The treatment often takes a few minutes. Instead of an in-office treatment, a local Rancho Cucamonga Dentist might also prescribe tablets that contain fluoride or recommend that your child rinses with a fluoride-containing mouthwash at home.
Sealants
Sealants are another way to help lower your family’s risk for tooth decay and cavities. Applied to the back teeth, this protective coating keeps bacteria and plaque from getting stuck on the uneven surface of the molars, limiting your child’s risk for tooth decay.
Ask your child’s Rancho Cucamonga Dentist about sealants the next time he or she goes in for a regular checkup.
Kicking Some Habits, and Improving Others
Sealants and fluoride treatments are just the first step in reversing, stopping and keeping early tooth decay away. Furthermore, you’ll also want to be meticulous about oral health at home.
That means making sure everyone in your family brushes their teeth twice a day, flosses and follows any other directions from your Rancho Cucamonga Dentist.
Reducing your consumption of sweets and between-meal snacks can also aid in reducing your family’s risk for the cavities nobody wants to find out they have at their next appointment.
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