There are a number of ways in which your child can be more susceptible to cavities in their teeth, but fortunately, most of these are easily avoided. This is largely achieved by regulating the amount of sugar and other potentially teeth-damaging compounds in your child's diet, while encouraging them to maintain the highest possible standard level of oral hygiene, supervising younger children as needed. So why does it seem like some children are more susceptible to cavities, and is there anything more you can do to protect your child's dental health?

Risk Assessment

Pediatric dentistry can involve a risk assessment for the likelihood of cavities, and part of this involves a thorough assessment of your child's teeth during their regular checkups. Your child's dentist checks for early signs of trouble, such as erosion of your child's dental enamel, and the accumulation of plaque and any subsequent development of dental calculus, which is hardened plaque. Plaque and calculus can be removed with a professional cleaning, and the dentist will advise you if your child's at-home oral hygiene plan needs to be modified.

Other Factors

There are instances when enamel erosion and other forms of deterioration must be addressed. Again, this can largely be overcome by appropriate at-home care, however, there might be other factors making your child's teeth more vulnerable to cavities, such as genetic conditions which led to an incomplete formation of dental enamel, such as hypomineralized second primary molars. Your child's dentist may recommend additional protective measures to give added strength to your child's existing dental enamel.

Ways to Protect Your Child's Dental Enamel

Your dentist can suggest the application of a dental sealant to your child's molars. This is a thin coating of resin applied to the flat biting surfaces of molars, boosting the existing dental enamel. Wear and tear will cause this resin to be slowly lost, but it can be reapplied as needed. Your dentist can also opt to apply a fluoride varnish to your child's teeth, which is a concentrated compound painted onto the teeth at your child's regular appointments. Again, this gives an added layer of protection against the formation of cavities.

Dental cavities can feel like a fact of life, although they can largely be avoided with proper care. When your child is more vulnerable to tooth decay, there are additional forms of protection that the dentist can use to reinforce your child's dental enamel. Reach out to a dentist like one at New England Dental Specialists of Norwood to schedule an appointment for your child.