12 Jan Lower Your Child’s Risk of Cavities
Most parents want to help their children avoid cavities at all costs. If you want to help your child maintain an ideal oral health care plan, here are a few tips that can help lower the risk of cavities:
- Avoid sugary drinks when possible. Don’t be fooled by labels, even fruit juices that are marked “100% juice” are high sugar. Be aware that sports and energy drinks, as well as sweet tea and soda, are loaded with lots of sugar. Don’t fill your child’s water bottle for school up with drinks like these. Stick to water instead!
- Limit snacks between meals. Avoid feeding your child processed snacks, instead offer fresh fruit or nuts. Apples and almonds are examples of snacks that are low in sugar and fat. Try following snack time up with some water too. This will help rinse out bits of food left behind from snack time. Flossing and brushing are still key though to removing all leftover foods.
- If you must have sugary foods and drinks, have them with a meal. During meals, saliva production increases which helps weaken acid and rinse buts of food from your mouth.
- Drink water! Drinking tap water with fluoride can help prevent cavities. If your water doesn’t contain fluoride (such as in Pender County), as us to write a prescription for a fluoride supplement. These are chewable and easy for children to take.
- Schedule regular dental checkups. It’s important for your child’s oral health to schedule regular dental visits. It also helps him/her feel more comfortable at dental appointments when they are familiar with the Drs., hygienists and office. We’re happy to schedule office tours so you can familiarize your child with our practice. Parents are always welcome to sit with their child for their regular checks ups too.
If you have any questions about how your child can avoid cavities, please feel free to call us in our Wilmington, NC or Leland, NC office at 910-794-2266. You can also email us at [email protected].