How to Treat Dental Caries in Children
Hermina's friend, have you ever seen the condition of a child's teeth that are yellow or even black?
Or has your little one at home cried because of toothache?
Do Hermina's friends know that these conditions can be caused by caries in children's teeth?
What is dental caries?
Dental caries or better known as cavities is damage to the enamel (outer layer of teeth) by bacteria that produce acid. Bacteria that are in the oral cavity will multiply and eat away the food residue that sticks to the surface of the teeth and produce acids. Exposure to acidic substances accompanied by acidic foods and drinks will cause tooth minerals to be lost, thus causing cavities in the teeth.
Dental caries is a dental health problem that is quite common in many people, both children and adults. Dental caries in children is a condition that occurs when a child's teeth are damaged and cause the teeth to become porous, hollow, and appear black.
Causes of Dental Caries in Children
Dental caries occurs when bacteria accumulate on the teeth and cause plaque formation, causing demineralization or loss of the mineral composition of the teeth. One of the factors that is the main cause of increasing the risk of dental caries in children is the frequent consumption of sweet foods.
Sweet foods that enter the mouth can make bacteria gain energy. So, when you often consume sweet foods, bacteria will have more energy to produce acid which causes the minerals in the teeth to disappear and create cavities. Sugar from sweet foods that stick to the teeth will also facilitate the formation of plaque from bacteria.
Apart from frequently consuming sweet foods or foods that are high in sugar, caries in children can also be caused by a lack of oral and dental hygiene in children.
Symptoms of Dental Caries in Children
Symptoms of dental caries can be different for each person, depending on the severity.
The following are common symptoms that can occur in children:
1. Teeth feel pain when consuming sweet, cold, or hot foods and drinks.
2. The appearance of white spots on the teeth is an early sign of damage to the enamel (the outermost layer of the teeth)
3. The appearance of a small hole that is clearly visible in the teeth, usually brown
How to Overcome Dental Caries in Children
Before cavities occur in the teeth, the child's dental health should be maintained by having a dental examination or treatment to the doctor at least once every six months, the aim is to detect whether there is a problem with the child's teeth or not.
However, if caries has occurred in a child's teeth, the treatment that can be done is through a dental filling procedure. This procedure is usually performed for dental caries that are not too deep and severe. The purpose of dental fillings is to close the holes in the teeth so that they don't spread to other parts of the teeth.
In addition, for severe dental caries, the doctor will usually extract the patient's teeth. This action is the last solution for treating dental caries if other treatments are ineffective. Then, the doctor also gives antibiotics to prevent infection.
How to Prevent Dental Caries
Some efforts that can be done to prevent dental caries in children are as follows:
Clean your teeth with a toothbrush and floss, at least twice a day. Morning after breakfast and night before bed
Have regular dental check-ups at least once every 6 months.
Limit consumption of sweet foods and drinks that contain lots of sugar
So Hermina's best friend is the cause, symptoms of dental caries and how to overcome it. For friends of Hermina who have children, don't forget to always pay attention to the condition of their child's teeth, and do routine dental care at least once every six months, so that health problems with children's teeth can be prevented and treated properly and do not cause more serious dental problems.