“Why does my 5 year old daughter keep getting cavities?”

Any sugary or acidic substance can cause cavities. If she drinks/eats juice, milk, soda pop, ice cream or any other food or liquid other than water (pH 7 or greater) she needs to rinse with non acidic water afterwards to prevent the liquids/foods from resting on her teeth. Also, if she is sick a lot or has any form of GERD she may have stomach acids playing a part in this. Cavities form at 5.5 pH or lower so if there is anything that can contribute to creating an acidic environment in her mouth it needs to be evaluated and eliminated. She can drink and eat whatever you deem good for her but she needs to brush her teeth, floss her teeth and as she gets older it would not be a bad idea to use a tongue scrapper to eliminate the bacteria that hide in the tongue. She may also have some of the more aggressive forms of bacteria in her mouth and she may need a prescription like Peridex mouth rinse. She may be too young for it. You should ask your Dentist about it. Might not be a bad idea to observe her sleeping and see if she breaths through her mouth. Drying out the mouth can make any residual food/liquid debris broken down by bacteria to sugar, than to acid, and because it is a dry environment with little to no saliva it is more concentrated and more damage occurs. Most cavities form at night so it would be wise to evaluate her diet, teeth cleaning and sleep patterns after her last meal of the day up to the time she sleeps at night and to observe as stated above whether she breaths through her mouth at night.

There actually many reasons why a child can have decay besides eating candy. Foods rich in starch and carbohydrates break down into sugars. If the child is a grazer, or tends to eat slowly then there will be a higher chance of getting decay. Another surprising reason can be if a child is tongue tied. Food is not able to be moved around or swallows easily due to a restricted tongue.

This is a great question. I have answered it so many times these past forty years that I made a public service video which can be found on my website. Cavities don't just happen. They are caused by eating carbohydrates too frequently. Between meals our teeth absorb calcium to replace what was lost during the meal. Interfering too often with this healing process will lead to cavities. The two keys are: 1)understanding that it is the frequency of eating carbohydrates that is more important than the quantity and 2) understanding that all fruits, grains, dairy and starches comprise carbohydrates. Snack on nuts and veggies instead of crackers and fruit.

She's either not brushing properly, which should be supervised at 5, or she's getting too much sugar in the form of what she is drinking or eating that is not being effectively removed from the surfaces of the teeth and is being allowed to become bacterial. I would start by analyzing how and what she is eating or drinking that has sugar in it and when. Then I would cross that with when she brushes. This should produce an obvious result that tells you whether it's the hygiene or the lack of the food groups that need to be modified and corrected quickly because it does get expensive.

Cavities are caused by the acidic toxins that the bacterial plaque that gets on everyone's teeth produces. These toxins are acidic and that's what demineralizes the outer enamel coating of the tooth until eats through to the next much softer layer, the dentin. Basically if the bacteria is not getting fed (it loves sugar, starches, and even "natural sugars" in fruit juices and milk) AND the bacteria is being properly and completely removed after breakfast and before bed (with nothing to eat or drink after brushing) with a nice soft toothbrush, maybe you should get some "plaque disclosing solution" so you can check your daughter's teeth after brushing to make sure all of the plaque is getting cleaned off. Any drug store should have it in the tooth care aisle. Follow the directions on the package. Most people are pretty surprised how much plaque is actually left on the teeth after a "typical brushing". The plaque disclosing solution is used after brushing and colors any plaque that is left on the teeth so you can "see" what is being missed. If the plaque is not there, and it's not being fed, she should not be getting cavities. Most kids that age need help being effective brushers, and the plaque disclosing solution will help you to see it.

This varies from individual to individual based off of their oral bacteria. Oral hygiene is key here. At this age the parent should still assist with brushing and flossing.

She should not eat or drink anything after she brushes her teeth at night time. Make sure her toothpaste has fluoride and she goes for regular checkup and cleanings.

Hi!

There are a couple of things you should be looking for. You may think she isn't eating sugar, but she may be getting other forms of sugar that you don't realize can be causing cavities. You should watch the overall refined carbohydrates, and fruits while they are healthy are also a source of cavity causing sugar, especially dried fruit, which is the worst because of it is also sticky.

The other concern, besides sugar, is acid. Many people, including children, have too much acid and acid will eat away the enamel of the teeth. You can buy pH paper or strips in the pharmacy and see if your child's saliva is acidic (below 7) or basic (above 7). Xylitol is an excellent sugar substitute that will neutralize the acid in the mouth and reduce the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. I personally recommend Zellies (zellies.com) gum and mints because they are all natural and non-GMO. My grandchildren have at least one mint (sucking candy) after every meal and snack.

Good luck,

Robert M. Hersh, DMD

Does she drink a lot of sugared drinks? Does she suck on sugared candy? She must be getting sugar attacks from somewhere. Does she leave much food on her teeth and not brush effectively before bedtime? Cavities need a source from which to form. I suggest to examine carefully her habits and try to find the answer to the puzzle.

Cavities are not only from sugar, it has other more reasons like not brushing well or flossing, which can also cause cavities. Please go to your dentist and I'm sure he will be able to know what the reason for that is.

You have to look at her diet with a discerning eye. Is she eating cookies, cakes, does she drink soda, juices? If the answer is “no,” you have to discuss the issue with your dentist to determine the other causes that may contribute to the problem.

There are many reasons that your child could be getting cavities: from diet, poor oral hygiene, mouth breathing (dry mouth), nighttime feeding (baby bottle tooth decay) to name a few. Stay away from sticky foods, candy, and pop drinks. Try and push water, as it can neutralize acid. Floss and brush your tongue. Do see your dentist and perhaps he can help narrow down the cause for your child.

Thanks,