How to prevent cavities in children: seven habits that work

The short answer: tooth decay in children is very preventable. Brush from the first tooth with fluoride toothpaste, help your child brush until about age seven or eight, keep sweet food to mealtimes, give water between meals, start dental visits by the first birthday, and ask about sealants when the permanent back teeth come in.

1. Start brushing with the first tooth

Before teeth appear, wipe the gums with a clean, soft cloth after feeds. Once the first tooth arrives, brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

• Under three: a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
• Three and over: a pea-sized amount.

Teach your child to spit out the extra toothpaste and not to rinse, so the fluoride keeps working.

2. Help with brushing until about seven or eight

Young children do not yet have the hand control to clean every surface. A useful benchmark: once your child can tie their own shoelaces, they can usually brush on their own, with a check from you at night.

3. Keep sugar to mealtimes

How often a child eats sugar matters more than how much. Each sweet snack or drink gives the bacteria in plaque another round of acid. Keep sweets, biscuits and juice to mealtimes, and avoid putting a child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.

4. Make water the drink between meals

Water rinses food away and adds no sugar. Milk is good with meals. Packaged juices and flavoured milk are better treated as part of a meal than as a drink to sip through the day.

5. First dental visit by the first birthday

An early visit is short and gentle. We count the teeth, check the gums, and show you how to brush and how much toothpaste to use. After that, a check-up every six months lets small changes be handled while they are small. Our parents' guide to children's dentistry explains what happens at each age.

6. Sealants on the permanent back teeth

The first permanent molars come in at around age six, and the second set at around twelve. Their chewing surfaces have deep grooves that are hard to clean. A sealant is a thin coating painted into those grooves. It takes a few minutes, needs no injection, and protects the surfaces where most children's cavities start. A fluoride varnish at check-ups adds extra protection.

7. Make it a routine your child enjoys

Brush at the same times each day, let your child choose their brush, and brush alongside them. Sticker charts and a two-minute song help younger children keep going.

Early signs worth a check

Chalky white patches near the gumline are often the first sign of decay, and at that stage fluoride can harden the enamel again. Brown spots, sensitivity to cold or sweet food, or a child avoiding chewing on one side are worth a visit. Small cavities in baby teeth are repaired with tooth-coloured fillings from ₹1,500, which keeps the tooth comfortable and holds space for the adult tooth underneath.

Children's dentistry at Smile Dental

Children's check-ups at our kids' dentistry clinic start from ₹500. We go at your child's pace, show them each tool before we use it, and you are welcome to stay in the room. Call Kondapur on +91 7416 644 400 or Vizag on +91 9849 132 388.