Tooth decay is a tooth damage condition that can occur in anyone. Especially children because their baby teeth are very weak and their enamel is thin and can easily be attacked by bacteria that cause tooth decay. However, molars play an important role in chewing and chewing. If they decay too early, it will cause problems later. Therefore, parents are often worried and don’t know what to do if their 5-year-old child has molar cavities?
, first you should learn about tooth decay in your baby. Tooth decay is different for each child, depending on the severity. Therefore, signs of tooth decay also have a hierarchy.
Signs of a 5-year-old child with molar tooth decay, what to do
Early stages of tooth decay in a 5-year-old child (light)
When teeth are just starting to decay. The wormhole has not yet been formed but has only changed in color. At this time, a few white spots will appear on the teeth because bacteria begin to attack the tooth enamel. This sign is often overlooked if parents do not check their baby’s teeth regularly because it hardly causes pain. Or if you see it, it’s often subjective and doesn’t think it’s a sign of tooth decay. Therefore, if not promptly intervened, tooth decay will progress to stage 2.
Stage 2 tooth decay (medium)
This stage is when tooth decay progresses. develops, erodes tooth enamel more, and dark brown cavities form on the surface of molars. And along with that comes pain symptoms, so children often complain of pain, stop eating, and have anorexia. At this time, your baby’s molars are also sensitive to the temperature of hot/cold foods and their ability to chew and grind food is reduced.
Stage 3 tooth decay in children (severe)
At this stage, the pain becomes more intense, increasing the feeling of discomfort. If the molar is decayed to the pulp, the pain reaches all the way to the brain. Along with that comes bad breath, and most children have difficulty eating and chewing.
Causes of 5-year-old child having molar cavities
5-year-old child cavities jaw must be repaired Stars are a matter of concern and concern for parents. However, knowing the specific cause will help parents easily control the condition as well as have effective ways to prevent and treat it.
Here are some of the main causes of tooth decay in children:
Improper oral care and hygiene
Most parents are subjective in guiding their children to clean and maintain their teeth. Because it is believed that children’s baby teeth will be replaced when they reach age. However, this is a wrong opinion that leads to a lot of tooth decay in children, especially molars.
A 5-year-old child has a diet like an adult, chewing a lot without proper oral hygiene will negatively affect the teeth bacteria, creating a suitable environment for bacteria to destroy teeth.
Improper eating habits
Children often like sweet foods, but foods rich in sugar and starch are not good for teeth Bacteria develop and attack teeth.
At the same time, after eating sweet foods such as ice cream, cakes, candy, carbonated soft drinks, milk,… without drinking water and rinsing your teeth, the risk of tooth decay is very high.
Causes of 5-year-old baby having molar cavities – What to do if a 5-year-old child has molar cavities?
Child’s health status
Some children have tooth decay due to physical health diseases. 400;” aria-level=”1″>Some children with diseases often breathe through their mouths, leading to dry mouth, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
Babies lacking nutrients such as iron, calcium,… also increase the risk of cavities teeth.
Lack of fluoride
Some children with fluoride deficiency increase the risk of tooth decay. Fluoride is a natural mineral that protects and restores tooth damage in the early stages. Normally, this mineral is abundant in water and food In addition, toothpaste is also a product supplemented with fluoride to improve tooth health and prevent tooth decay.
What should a 5-year-old child with molar tooth decay do?
Relieve pain caused by tooth decayin children
Folk methods that can be done at home reduce pain in children. However, parents should choose quality, benign ingredients to make for their babies.
Using green tea leaves
Green tea is one of the effective methods to reduce pain, anti-inflammation, and antibacterial for children. At the same time, green tea leaves are also rich in catechins, tannic acid, and fluoride, which are essential substances that help teeth form protective protein enamel layers.
To do this, parents crush 2-3 green tea leaves and let the baby suck on the decayed molars. And keep in place for 3-5 minutes then rinse with clean water.
Use honey
Honey is also rich in nutrients and has effective anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. At the same time, honey has a sweet taste, so it increases the comfort for the baby. Let your baby hold 1 spoon of honey in his mouth and instruct him to bring the ingredients into contact with the surface and the affected tooth to maximize its effectiveness in relieving tooth decay pain.
Soak in diluted salt water
Diluted salt water is the most widely used method to relieve pain and prevent tooth decay. Diluted salt solution has antiseptic properties and effectively cleans and removes plaque on teeth. Soaking salt in the cavity of the tooth also helps your baby reduce pain and discomfort. Instruct your baby to suck salt water into the oral cavity, leave it for about 1 minute each time, then rinse the mouth with clean water.
However, all of these methods are to relieve the baby’s pain and discomfort, not to cure it completely. Therefore, parents should take their children to the dentist to see a doctor for examination and treatment as soon as possible.
What to do if a 5-year-old child has tooth decay?
Treatment of tooth decay for a 5-year-old child
Depending on each child’s condition, the doctor will recommend appropriate treatment methods. Below are some methods to treat cavities for children:
Remineralization of cavities
For children who have just begun to have cavities, the doctor will clean their teeth and perform remineralization. This method does not cause pain and limits future complications. Doctors use calcium, phosphate, and fluoride materials to cover cavities in teeth to restore lost enamel. After the procedure, the baby can still eat and live normally, while preventing harmful bacteria from continuing to grow and harm the teeth.
Cavity filling
This method is performed for children with mild and moderate tooth decay. At this time, the cavity is shallow, has not yet spread and penetrated deeply into the tooth structure. Dental fillings help preserve your baby’s teeth, prevent bacteria from growing, and eliminate pain and sensitivity.
Extraction of decayed teeth
Extraction of teeth when having cavities in primary molars is not recommended by doctors. Because not only do molars take on the chewing function, but they also hold the position for permanent molars. If your baby has molars removed too early, before they are at the age to replace teeth, it will affect their ability to grow permanent teeth, making them more likely to grow crooked and crooked.
However, if the tooth decay is too severe, infected, or affects the pulp, the doctor is required to extract it for complete treatment. From there, we can stop the bacteria from continuing to affect the surrounding teeth, avoiding infection to the jaw structure.
What to do if a 5-year-old child has molar tooth decay – Treatment methods
Therefore, parents should observe their child’s oral health to promptly intervene and treat. Early detection and treatment will not only correct the condition but also avoid causing other dangerous dental diseases as well as the possibility of permanent teeth growing later.
The information in the article What to do if a 5-year-old child has molar cavities helps parents understand how to handle and treat their children. Most importantly, parents should instruct their children on how to properly clean and protect their teeth, and control the amount of sugary foods that children consume every day. At the same time, also observe the signs so that you can treat your teeth promptly. Wishing all children to have beautiful teeth and the best oral health.
In case you need support and check your baby’s oral health, parents can go to My Auris dentistry.
