How to prevent cavities in children

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on March 26, 2025
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Prevention of tooth decay in children should first encourage them to develop good tooth-brushing habits, reducing bacteria and plaque on the tooth surface, and include brushing in the morning and evening, as well as rinsing after meals. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body but is susceptible to cracking. Acidic or sugary substances are harmful to teeth, so it's best to avoid sweets and acidic foods in the evening and to brush teeth before going to bed. Brushing teeth before sleeping is crucial and some anti-cavity treatments should be done, such as fluoride application or dental sealants. It's also important to develop a habit of regular dental check-ups to detect and treat cavities early.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
41sec home-news-image

How long does it generally take for the pain from a cavity to ease when biting?

When patients experience some occlusal pain due to tooth decay, the time it takes for relief depends on the patient's inflammation levels and the treatment measures taken. If the patient receives timely treatment and effectively alleviates the inflammation, it generally takes about a week to heal and relieve the pain. If the patient does not undergo treatment, the condition may worsen and the pain may persist longer. Therefore, when a patient has tooth decay, it is best to visit a hospital for a consultation. Treatment should be administered based on the extent of the decayed tooth, and in severe cases of decay, tooth extraction might be necessary.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Is tooth sensitivity caused by exposed nerves?

When a patient has dental caries, it can cause some damage to the gum tissue, resulting in the gums being in a state of acute inflammation. At this time, the gums may be particularly sensitive, especially to hot and cold stimuli, but this does not necessarily mean that the nerves in the gums are exposed. It is recommended that patients pay attention to a light diet and avoid overly hot or spicy foods, as well as hard foods that may irritate the sensitive gum tissue, leading to discomfort. Therefore, patients are advised to maintain a light diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and drink plenty of water. Additionally, it is crucial for patients to develop healthy oral hygiene habits. It is recommended that patients visit the hospital in a timely manner for consultation, and receive specific treatment plans based on the extent of the damage caused by the caries.

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
1min 17sec home-news-image

If the cavity doesn't hurt, does that mean it hasn't reached the nerve?

It is necessary to make judgments based on the patient's symptoms and examination results. Dental caries refers to the chronic, progressive, destructive disease occurring in the hard tissues of the teeth under the influence of various factors such as plaque bacteria. Whether dental caries is painless or has reached the nerve, the simplest clinical method is to judge based on the patient's symptoms, asking whether the patient experiences pain. In the early stages, there are only changes in the color and texture of the tooth, which do not cause pain. In the later stages of the disease, due to necrosis of the dental pulp, pain may not occur. At this time, diagnosis can be assisted by dental films; an X-ray can show the low-density shadow produced by the caries, and whether this low-density area significantly erodes into the dental pulp, which is also an auxiliary diagnostic method. Therefore, it is important to maintain oral hygiene, brush teeth morning and evening, and rinse mouth after meals.

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Written by Wang Peng
Dentistry
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Can cavities be seen with the naked eye?

Some cavities are visible to the naked eye, while others are not. Clinically, some cavities can be observed with the naked eye. Such cavities usually have damage that extends beyond the enamel, with obvious cavities and incomplete tooth structures visible. For example, cavities on the biting surfaces of molar teeth and on the adjacent surfaces of front teeth that are moderate to severe can be seen with the naked eye. However, not all cavities can be observed with the naked eye. When the decay is confined within the enamel without obvious cavity formation, it cannot be seen with the naked eye, but it can be diagnosed by taking dental X-rays. Clinically, there are also some cavities on adjacent surfaces where the decay starts from hidden parts of the tooth; some of these might show ink-soaked-like dark brown discoloration on the biting surfaces, but they too require dental X-rays for diagnosis.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What should I do about permanent tooth decay?

Permanent tooth decay refers to the decay that occurs in children's newly emerged permanent teeth or already replaced permanent teeth. Once decay occurs in a permanent tooth, it is necessary to fill the tooth as soon as possible. Decay is removed by drilling out the decayed hard tissue of the tooth. After removal, direct pulp capping treatment for the tooth is performed. If the decay in the permanent tooth is deep and has reached the tooth nerve, pulp treatment is needed. Vital pulpotomy can be used to retain the root pulp of the root part to promote further development of the tooth root. If the apex of the root has already formed in the permanent tooth and decay occurs, and the tooth nerve cannot be preserved, we can directly proceed with root canal treatment.