Finding out that your child has a cavity can be scary, but you should know that lots of kids get cavities. In fact, millions of young children have tooth decay. It is one of the most common health problems for kids.
Cavities happen when a sticky layer called plaque builds up on teeth. Plaque is made of germs that like to eat the sugar in our food. These germs make acid that can hurt the teeth and cause holes, called cavities.
If a cavity is not fixed, it can get bigger and go deeper into the tooth. This can hurt and sometimes cause swelling or an infection. Sometimes, the dentist might need to do a special treatment or even take out the tooth if it gets really bad.
Even if a baby tooth falls out before it causes big problems, it is still not good to lose it too soon. Baby teeth help keep space for grown-up teeth. If a baby tooth is lost early, grown-up teeth might not come in the right way.
The good news is that there are ways to fix and stop cavities. Dentists have treatments that can help keep your child’s teeth healthy.
Prevention: Use of Fluoride
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by making the outside part of your teeth, called enamel, stronger. This means your teeth are better at fighting off germs and sugar that can cause holes, or cavities. If your teeth start to get weak, fluoride can help fix them by putting important minerals back into the enamel. Fluoride also makes it harder for germs to stick to your teeth and make acid. Using fluoride in toothpaste, mouthwash, or from the dentist helps keep your teeth healthy and protects you from getting cavities.
Fillings
When a child has a cavity, the dentist can fix it with a filling. First, the dentist will make sure the child is comfortable. Sometimes, the dentist will use a special jelly or medicine to numb the tooth so it doesn’t hurt.
Next, the dentist gently cleans out the part of the tooth that has the cavity. After all the bad parts are gone, the dentist fills the hole with a special tooth-colored material. This filling helps make the tooth strong again.
Finally, the dentist shapes and smooths the filling so it feels just right. Now the tooth is healthy and the child can smile and chew without pain!
Crowns
A crown is like a special hat for a tooth. Dentists use crowns to help fix teeth that have big cavities or are broken. The crown covers the whole tooth, making it strong and letting the child chew food without pain.
Crowns help protect the tooth from getting more cavities. They also help the tooth stay in place until the grown-up tooth is ready to come in. This way, the child can keep smiling, eating, and talking just like before!
Pulp treatment or Pulpotomy
A pulpotomy is a special dental treatment that helps save a kid’s tooth when it has a really big cavity or is hurt. Inside each tooth is a soft part called the pulp, which has nerves and blood vessels. If a cavity or injury reaches the pulp, it can hurt a lot and cause swelling or infection156.
During a pulpotomy, the dentist first makes the tooth numb so it doesn’t hurt. Then, the dentist takes out the sick or damaged pulp from the top part of the tooth but leaves the healthy part in the roots. The dentist puts medicine inside to help keep the rest of the tooth healthy and then covers the tooth with a filling or a crown156.
A pulpotomy is important because it stops pain and infection, and it helps the tooth stay in place until it’s time for the grown-up tooth to come in156. This way, kids can keep chewing, smiling, and talking without problems!
Removal of Tooth or Extractions
Sometimes, kids need to have a tooth taken out, and this is called an extraction. Dentists might do this if a tooth has a big cavity that can’t be fixed, if the tooth is badly broken from an accident, or if there are too many teeth and not enough space for them to grow straight367. Sometimes, a tooth is also taken out to help make room for braces or for the adult teeth to come in59.
When a dentist does an extraction, they first make the area around the tooth numb so it doesn’t hurt. Then, the dentist gently loosens the tooth and removes it. After the tooth is out, the dentist may give you special instructions to help your mouth heal. Taking out a tooth can help stop pain, prevent infections, and make sure your other teeth grow in the right way169.
Some say its a Baby tooth it will eventually fall out, why should I treat it?
It is important to try to save a baby tooth because baby teeth help you chew your food and talk clearly. They also hold space in your mouth for your grown-up teeth to come in later. If a baby tooth falls out too soon, the other teeth might move into the empty space, and then the grown-up tooth might not have enough room to grow in the right spot. Saving baby teeth helps keep your smile healthy and makes sure your adult teeth come in straight!