What causes cavities in children?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on December 24, 2024
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There are many causes of dental cavities in children, with bacterial infection being a common one. During childhood, if teeth are not brushed promptly after eating, the amount of bacteria in the mouth increases. These bacteria then break down food, producing glucose or lactic acid, which leads to demineralization on the surface of the teeth, eventually causing cavities over time. Additionally, it might be related to the sleep patterns during childhood, as children have longer sleep durations. During sleep, the brain inhibits saliva production, which reduces its effectiveness in washing away food residue on the teeth, thereby making cavities more likely to develop. Furthermore, children's preference for sweets also contributes to the high incidence of cavities.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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Can cavities be brushed with an electric toothbrush?

Cavities can be cleaned using an electric toothbrush. However, if the cavity is severe, the vibrations from the electric toothbrush may cause pain. It is necessary to fill or treat teeth with cavities as soon as possible. Only after treatment can the progression of the cavity be controlled; merely brushing with an electric toothbrush cannot control the development of the cavity. Cavities are a destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. Control over cavities can only be achieved by removing decay and using a drill to remove the infected cavity tissue; an electric toothbrush cannot control the development of cavities.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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What to do if you have tooth decay and swollen, painful gums?

When patients experience dental caries and swollen, painful gums, it is advised that they seek medical attention promptly. They may take some anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications to relieve inflammation and pain. After the inflammation has completely subsided, treatment should be based on the extent of damage to the dental caries. If the damage to the dental caries is minor, conservative treatment may be sufficient. However, if the damage is severe, it may affect part of the tooth structure or even the entire tooth and root, possibly leading to cavitation. In such cases, it is recommended that patients consider tooth extraction or filling as remedial measures. Additionally, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene and develop correct tooth brushing habits. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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How to deal with toothache from cavities?

Cavity toothache occurs when bacteria infect the hard tissue of the tooth, approaching or reaching the dental nerve, causing a pain response from the nerve, which is also a self-protective reaction. Initial treatment for cavity toothache involves using a drill to remove the decayed hard tissue of the tooth. If the decay is completely removed and the dental nerve is not exposed, this condition can be directly treated by filling or using a pulp-capping agent to protect the nerve before filling. If, after removing the decay, the dental nerve is exposed or reached, the situation cannot be resolved with a direct and immediate filling. Instead, nerve-killing procedures are necessary, which involve root canal treatment of the tooth.

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Dentistry
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Is it normal to have pain after filling a cavity?

Mild pain after filling a cavity is normal. This is often seen when glass ionomer materials are used for fillings. Glass ionomer materials expand in volume within 24 hours of mixing, which can stimulate the dental nerves and cause pain. However, the pain should gradually decrease or disappear after 24 hours. If there is severe pain after the filling, it may be due to the filling material being too high or the tooth decay being too deep, reaching the dental nerves and causing nerve pain. This situation is abnormal and requires root canal treatment.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Will tooth decay affect other teeth?

When a patient suffers from tooth decay, generally not taking measures to treat it may cause other teeth to also develop cavities. Some patients with long-term cavities may have one or more teeth affected, and even some patients might have entire teeth significantly decayed. Therefore, when cavities occur, certain measures must be taken for treatment. Depending on the condition of the cavity, a specific treatment plan should be formulated, whether it's a dental filling or tooth extraction. Thus, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene in their daily lives, brushing their teeth morning and evening. After meals, it's important to promptly remove food residues from the mouth and develop proper habits for brushing and eating. If a cavity develops, the patient should treat it early to prevent it from affecting other teeth.