Why Is My Child Getting So Many Cavities?

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Cavities are a really common problem for kids. It’s not unusual for a child to experience one or two cavities in their childhood. If your child is getting a lot of cavities, there may be things that you can do to help. Taking your child to the pediatric dentist in St. Petersburg and Seminole, FL is one thing you can do. At Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry, we help our patients avoid cavities. Here’s what you need to know.

What Causes Cavities?

A cavity is an area of decay in the tooth that causes a small hole in the tooth enamel. Cavities are typically caused by a combination of poor oral hygiene and consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks.

How Can I Prevent My Child From Getting Cavities?

There are many things you can do to help your child avoid getting cavities. Some examples include:

  • Brush their teeth for them. Until children turn about 7 or 8 years old, they may lack the coordination to brush their own teeth. By brushing your child’s teeth for them, you can reach the parts of their mouth they have a hard time reaching themselves.
  • Take them to the dentist. Your child’s dentist will let you know how often your child needs to see the dentist. Make appointments as recommended by the dentist.
  • Limit their intake of sugary foods and beverages. Keep sugarless snacks on hand for your child to munch on.

Does your child need fillings? Contact us.

If your child needs cavity fillings in St. Petersburg and Seminole, FL, contact Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry to make an appointment. We can help!

What to Expect from Pediatric Tongue Tie Surgery  

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Ankyloglossia, more commonly referred to as tongue tie, is a common condition in young children. This congenital problem causes tightness or shortness of the lingual frenulum, which is a thin fold of tissue underneath the tongue that can cause issues with mobility.

Children with a tongue tie may not be able to eat properly or speak clearly until a dentist fixes the problem. A tongue tie is often more serious among infants who cannot latch onto the breast or a bottle nipple properly when eating. Here are some other symptoms that parents of infants and young children with a tongue tie might notice:

  • Infants appear malnourished or receive a diagnosis of failure to thrive
  • Children cannot move the tongue sideways, toward the upper teeth, or stick their tongue out past the lower front teeth.
  • Children struggle to produce certain speech sounds, especially d, l, r, n, t, th, and z.
  • Breastfeeding mothers complain of pain because babies bite rather than suck.

Tongue tie surgery in Seminole, FL is just one of the many services we provide at Luce Tooth Pediatric Dentistry.

Our Approaches to Tongue Tie Surgery

During a frenotomy, your child’s dentist makes a small cut in the lingual frenulum to free the tongue to make all types of movements. Babies can begin feeding normally immediately after the procedure. Parents should also stretch their infant’s tongue tissue for up to four weeks to make sure that the skin does not grow back too tight.

The dental team reserves the frenuloplasty for more severe cases of tongue tie when the lingual frenulum is too thick for a simple cut. Children will need anesthesia for a frenuloplasty because it is plastic surgery.

We encourage parents not to let a tongue tie go uncorrected indefinitely as it could lead to significant problems for their child. Please contact our pediatric dental practice in Seminole, FL to learn more about these two procedures today.