It’s common for kids to get cavities and unfortunately, there are many ways they can get them. When the first time parents found their toddler has a cavity they get tensed. They try to find out what was their fault, what wrong they were doing! Don’t, worry in this article, we will go over some of the reasons your toddler might be getting cavities, what you need to do if it happens, and how to prevent it from happening in the future.
How often do toddlers get cavities?
Cavities are a common problem for toddlers. In fact, according to the American Academy of Paediatrics, cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease. The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children visit the dentist by their first birthday.
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Science estimates that up to 20% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 have undiagnosed cavities.
Even though your child’s primary (baby) teeth will fall out soon, it’s crucial to take care of them so that there is room for their permanent (adult) counterparts.
Usually, dental cavities start between the age of 2-5.
Why do toddlers get so frequent cavities:
There are multiple reasons why toddlers get so many frequent cavities.
- Use of milk Bootle: The cavities in the children below the age of 6 years called as early childhood caries (ECC). This age of toddlers suck their feeding bottle when they are going to sleep. They are sleepy at that moment and they slept very quickly. Nipple of their feeding milk bottle stays inside the oral cavity. If this happens regularly and frequently, mouth bacteria grow well and start fermenting the milk carbohydrate. That causes the Ph to go down inside their mouth. Toddler’s teeth start decaying.
- Fond of candies: Toddlers are fond of candies and sugary foods. They really enjoy and eat candies without limits. They do not rinse their mouths after eating. This leads to growing bacteria in their mouth.
- Lack of proper mouth washing: They do not properly brush or their parents sometimes do not give much care and that is why microorganism grows and causes cavities.
How to prevent cavities in toddlers:
Now you know how easily a toddler can get a cavity. Cavities in toddlers are not uncommon, and if left untreated, can lead to serious dental problems down the road. Here are some tips on how to prevent cavities in toddlers:

1. Avoid sugary drinks and snacks. Sugary drinks and snacks are one of the leading causes of cavities in toddlers. If your toddler does consume sugary drinks or snacks, be sure to brush their teeth afterward.
2. Use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities by Strengthening tooth enamel. Be sure to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toddler’s toothbrush.
3. Schedule regular dental check-ups. Dental check-ups are important for catching any problems early on. During a check-up, the dentist will also be able to apply fluoride treatments which can help prevent cavities from developing.
How do Remineralize Baby teeth naturally?
If you found that there may be some reasons that your toddler may have dental caries, being a parent, you must try to find out a way How to Remineralize Baby teeth naturally.
If the mentioned stages are followed properly, then the demineralization process of the enamel of the teeth slows down. So, the natural process of remineralization will go fast and the teeth enamel starts reforming again.

So, if the cavity is on the enamel only, and your toddler starts following those mentioned steps properly, remineralization
- One of the best things you can do is encourage your child to drink fluoridated water. Fluoride helps to remineralize teeth and makes them more resistant to cavities. If you live in an area with non-fluoridated water, you can talk to your dentist about fluoride supplements.
- Make sure they are brushing their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Avoid giving them sugary drinks or snacks. Instead, give them water or milk.
- Feed them a diet rich in calcium and phosphorus. This will help their teeth to remineralize themselves.
- Consider using a natural toothpaste that contains xylitol. This ingredient has been shown to help remineralize teeth.
If your toddler does get a cavity, don’t panic! Cavities are very common in young children and can be treated successfully by your dentist.
What can I do if my toddler has tooth decay?
If you found your toddler to have tooth decay, the few things you must do are
- Talk to your dentist and make a consultation immediately. Help your dentist provide all the information so that he can easily find out the reason.
- Stop all the sweet foods (like candy) of your children
- Stop soda water, any sugary drink, chips, hard foods, and sticky foods feeding your toddler.
- Please be careful about you’re your toddler’s diet and water intake.
What will a dentist do for toddler tooth decay?
We have already mentioned If your toddler has tooth decay, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with a dentist. Tooth decay is a serious problem that can lead to other health problems, so it’s important to get it treated as soon as possible.
During the appointment, the dentist will examine the affected tooth or teeth and take X-rays to determine the extent of the damage. If the decay is caught early, the dentist may be able to treat it with a simple filling. However, if the decay is more severe, a root canal or crown may be necessary.
According to the severity of the decay, the dentist will decide what to do.
- If decay in enamel: normally a simple filling will save the tooth
- If decay is in dentine: in most cases, they do filling
- If an infection is in pulp: They usually do the root canal treatment
- If the problem is more severe: they do the extraction.
Once the decay is treated, it’s important to take steps to prevent it from happening again. The best way to do this is by practicing good oral hygiene habits at home and making sure your toddler eats a healthy diet.
How do you tell if a cavity is really bad?
There are multiple way to tell that the cavity is in bad condition. If you have cavity talk to dentist immediately. The common symptoms of a bad cavity are
1. too much pain and swelling in gum
2. sensitivity to hot and or cold food and drink
3. Gum and chick both are swelled.