Tooth Decay Prevention

Tooth Decay.At Caldwell & Steinbring Dentistry For Children, we work hard to provide high-quality pediatric dental care to children in the Sugar Land, TX areas. Drs.Caldwell and Steinbring and their highly trained team of dental specialists make every child feel at home in the office. We have years of experience working with children of all ages and with every level of dental need. Our mission is to help all our patients develop a beautiful, healthy smile—and that means taking an active stance on tooth decay prevention.

A Common, But Preventable Problem

Tooth decay is one of the most common human diseases, second only to the common cold! Tooth decay affects more than 25% of children between the ages of two and five in the United States, as well as 50% of children between the ages of twelve and fifteen. Thankfully, tooth decay is highly preventable.

There's no single "magic bullet" to stop tooth decay, but using a combination of preventive techniques can keep tooth decay at bay. At the most basic level, a consistent routine of brushing and flossing your teeth at home combined with regular cleanings at our Sugar Land, TX office can help prevent decay. But that's just the beginning of the prevention process. In addition to these basic elements, it's important that you watch your:

  • Diet: Foods that are high in sugar or acids can eat away at tooth enamel, and colored drinks like soda and coffee can stain teeth. It's important to maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet to ensure proper dental health.
  • Brushing Technique: While brushing your teeth is important, equally is important is how you brush your teeth. Make sure you cover all areas, including uneven surfaces.
  • Supplementary Treatments: Treatments like dental sealants help prevent tooth decay.

Tooth Caries Balance.What Causes Tooth Decay?

Your mouth is a dynamically balanced ecosystem filled with living bacteria—both the good and bad kind. While many bacteria benefit your teeth and mouth, others break down the sugars and carbohydrates in food and turn them into acids that eat away at tooth enamel and cause decay. The goal of our pediatric dentistry is to keep the harmful bacteria in check, allowing the beneficial bacteria and other biological factors like saliva to strengthen and clean your teeth.

 

Extra Steps for Prevention

In some cases regular steps for prevention are not enough. If that's the case for your child, we can use a variety of extra steps to bolster tooth health. In-office fluoride treatments and take-home pastes and rinses can help improve the structural integrity of teeth and fortify them against acids and bacteria. We may also recommend anti-bacterial treatments or nutritional counseling.

Dental Sealants.Another highly effective preventive treatment (as previously mentioned) is dental sealants. Dental sealants are thin, virtually invisible layers of resin that are applied to the chewing surfaces of the rear molars. The process is completely painless and provides a semi-permanent layer of protection for the back teeth, which are some of the hardest teeth to keep clean.

 

Contact Your Sugar Land, TX Dentist

If you have more questions about preventing tooth decay, we'd be happy to answer them. Feel free to call us at 281-565-5437, or reach out to us via our contact page with any questions about pediatric dentistry or special needs pediatric dentistry, or to schedule an appointment. We can't wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping your child develop a beautiful, healthy smile!