Can My Child Get A Cavity When They Are A Toddler?

Posted on 8/1/2024 by Great Grins for KIDS

Cute little Black girl getting dental exam atGreat Grins for KIDS - Portland in Portland, OR

Cavities seem like they are a problem only for older children and adults, but even toddlers can develop cavities. Here are some common reasons why your toddler might develop cavities.

Bottles or Sippy Cups In Bed

One reason toddlers develop cavities is that they take a bottle or sippy cup to bed during bedtime or naptime. If your toddler sleeps with a bottle or sippy cup in their mouth, the sugars from milk or juice can remain on their teeth for hours. The bacteria that are always present in everyone's mouth feed on sugars and multiply. The acids in bacteria can eat at the enamel of the tooth, which causes cavities. These cavities are so common dentists call them Bottle-mouth Syndrome.

Not Brushing

Any parent of a toddler knows how difficult it can be to parent one. Toddlers can't process their feelings in the same way that older children and adults do. They have a streak of independence because they realize they have a separate identity from their parents. While toddlers are developing independence, they don't have the same reasoning ability as older children. All of these behavioral traits add up to a difficult time for parents. When a toddler decides not to do something, it is difficult to talk them into it.

There are ways around the toddler's famous stubbornness. First, redirecting a toddler works well. You can brush your teeth along with your toddler, make a game out of brushing, or challenge them to brush better than you can.

What About Flossing?

If getting a toddler to brush is difficult, urging them to floss is nearly impossible. Luckily, companies make flossers for children. They are a bit longer than adult flossers, and they come in shapes and colors that are attractive to children. Just like brushing, you may want to try flossing with your toddler watching. They may want to imitate you, or you can make a game out of it. If you establish brushing and flossing as a routine early, you are giving your toddler a great start on dental hygiene.

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

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Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Great Grins for KIDS Portland, 13908 SE Stark Street, Ste C, Portland, OR 97233-2161; (971) 470-0054; portlandchildrensdentist.com; 9/9/2024; Page Phrases: pediatric dentist Portland;