Prevention and care
Dental caries
What is tooth decay?
It is a tooth disease that destroys the structures of enamel and dentin. The evolution of decay goes from the outside (enamel) to the inside (dental pulp) and leads to the formation of a cavity. The origin of decay is bacterial and can be promoted by poor oral hygiene and too frequent exposure to sugar.
Comment éviter les caries chez l’enfant ?
Certain rules should be followed to prevent the appearance of cavities:
Practice good oral hygiene
From an early age, your child should be well educated in oral hygiene. As soon as the first tooth appears, Baby's tooth should be brushed, without toothpaste, once a day. You can use a suitable compress or mini toothbrush, making circular movements. From the age of two, you should brush your teeth twice a day - morning and evening - for at least 2 minutes, with suitable toothpaste. If your child is reluctant to brush his teeth, you can try using a connected toothbrush, which will give him access to games or small cartoons.
Choosing a toothbrush and toothpaste adapted to your child's age
L’enfant doit avoir sa propre brosse à dents, à changer tous les trois mois dès que les dents apparaissent en bouche. Les poils souples sont recommandés. Afin d’être bien conseillé sur le choix de la bonne brosse à dent et sur la bonne technique de brossage, il est important de consulter une Hygiéniste dentaire qui vous donnera toutes les instructions nécessaires.
Limit sugar
For many health issues, including dental health, it is important to monitor your child's sugar intake. If it is not a question of depriving him of sweets, it is necessary to reserve it for special occasions. Sweets, sodas, sweet fruit juices must be foods for exceptional consumption!
Make regular monitoring visits
A first check-up with the dentist and/or a dental hygienist is recommended from the age of 2 years. Thereafter, an annual control is essential but if necessary, closer visits may be indicated.
How do you treat cavities?
The dentist can also prevent cavities in the teeth by applying a resin to the surface of the teeth. This technique, mainly for children, is called crack sealing.
Les caries qui n’ont pas eu le temps d’atteindre la pulpe de la dent se soignent facilement et ne nécessitent qu’une simple obturation en résine composite. Une fois nettoyée, la cavité est bouchée, ainsi la pulpe de la dent est préservée et la dent est vivante. Le résultat est immédiat et esthétique.
Sometimes when the decay is too deep and too close to the nerve, it is necessary to do a devitalization of the tooth.
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