All About The No Cavity Club At Your Community Dental
Your Community Dental recently started the No Cavity Club to encourage kids to practice good oral hygiene. The No Cavity Club has become quite a hit for Your Community Dental. Kids are coming into the office excited to show off their pearly white teeth. They can’t wait to tell the dentist how well they have been doing and how they always brush their teeth. The No Cavity Club is all about making kids excited to keep their teeth clean and rewarding them for their good work.
What Is The No Cavity Club?
When a kid visits the dentist and has a checkup that concludes with a cavity-free report. They are rewarded with a spot in the No Cavity Club. The child receives a Perfect Checkup Certificate and takes a picture showing off their clean teeth, holding the certificate. The picture is then published on Facebook with the parents’ consent. Your Community Dental’s goal is to get your kids excited about dental hygiene. Cavities are a serious condition and can be scary for you and your children. The No Cavity Club is a great way to motivate your kids to take care of their teeth and educate them on the dental care without scaring them.
What Is A Cavity?
A cavity is what happens when a tooth begins to decay. The cavity is a hole in the tooth that can grow over time. Cavities form beneath the surface of a tooth, which is why it is important to take your kids for consistent check-ups at a dentist; only they can determine if there is a cavity or not. Cavities can cause very serious toothaches, infections, and even tooth loss. Cavities can be scary but with the No Cavity Club, your kids can get excited about their teeth.
What Causes Cavities?
Sugar! When sugar stays in the mouth and on teeth bacteria and acid forms. These harsh substances attack the tooth enamel and cause decay. Cavities are caused by acids in plaque breaking down the tooth enamel underneath the surface of the tooth. Over time, the enamel on the surface begins to decay and that is when a cavity forms. The most common areas that cavities form in are the surfaces of the back teeth used for chewing food, around the gums, and in between teeth.
What to do when you have a cavity?
The first thing you should do when you suspect your child may have a cavity is to make an appointment with Your Community Dental. Only a dentist can tell if they do have a cavity. The dentist will take x-rays which can detect cavities that cannot be seen. You can expect a bit of a wait when your child is getting cavity fixed. To do this a dentist will numb your teeth and mouth to reduce pain. Then, a dentist will drill out the decaying part of the tooth. Finally, a dentist will replace the drilled out decayed tooth with a filling. And all done! After the filling is done, your child’s mouth will be numb for about another hour. It is extremely important to schedule regular check-ups with the dentist. Treating a cavity is as simple as preventing them in the first place.
How Can I Prevent Cavities?
Taking small steps to keep you and your children’s teeth extra clean is very important and a great way to help prevent cavities. Since, sugary foods fuel bacteria that cause cavities it is important to eliminate sugary residue on your teeth. Brushing your teeth every now and then just won’t cut it. Here are a few tips to help to help your child make the no cavity club:
- Regular Brushing- To keep your teeth clean it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day. The ideal time to brush your teeth is a few minutes after breakfast and right before bed after you have finished any bed time snacks. We know it can be hard to get the little ones into bed but make sure they aren’t skipping this important bedtime routine.
- Use Fluoride Toothpaste- Fluoride toothpaste helps rebuild weakened enamel and helps strengthen your teeth. This can help prevent tooth decay.
- Rinse Your Mouth- Ideally it would be great to brush your teeth after every meal or snack, but sometime your tooth brush isn’t handy. If you don’t have time to brush your teeth after every time you eat rinse your mouth out with water, this will help remove some of the residue left on your teeth.
- Routine Checkups- Visiting Your Community Dental twice a year is recommended to help you keep your teeth cavity-free.
- Avoid Sugary beverages- Sugar-loaded drinks like soda and fruit punch are very bad for your teeth, if you drink these throughout the day your teeth will constantly have sugary residue that will led to bacteria and acid, this is the main cause of cavities. Instead, drink water throughout the day and save sugar drinks for when you can brush after.
- Dental Sealants- At Your Community Dental we highly recommend kids getting dental sealants. A sealant is a protective coal that covers the back teeth. The sealants help protect the enamel from plaque and acid.
At Your Community Dental we are committed to keeping your children in the No Cavity Club and educating them on keeping healthy teeth. They will have fun and keep that healthy smile. Set up an appointment by visiting our website and filling out the online form or calling the office at 910-342-9210.