Tooth decay is a common chronic problem for children today. Fortunately, tooth decay is something you can prevent. But to do that, you need to first understand how it happens. 

Cavities occur when foods containing sugars are trapped in the mouth. The bacteria present in your child's mouth convert the sugars into acid. Over time, this acid erodes the enamel resulting in serious issues like cavities. 

Thankfully, the following tips can help protect your child's teeth from cavities. 

Feed Them a Balanced Diet 

A balanced diet is beneficial to your child's dental health. Incorporate things like fruits and vegetables in their diet. Raw fruits and vegetables will help scrub their teeth and, in a way, will keep the teeth clean. 

Important minerals like calcium are essential for teeth development. Therefore, you might want to add dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt to your child's diet. Such foods have the high calcium content that your child needs. You can also feed them dark leafy vegetables such as spinach and collard greens. Those, too, are a good source of calcium.

Be sure to limit the amount of juice and soda your child consumes. The sugars and acid in these drinks can accelerate tooth decay. If your child likes candy or gum, encourage them to chew on sugarless gum. Chewing gum will stimulate saliva production, which will keep their teeth clean.

Invest In Xylitol Products 

Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from plants. It is used to manufacture sugar-free gummies, toothpaste, and mouthwash. 

Your child's body needs food to grow, just like bacteria need food to multiply. The sugars present in your child's food provide food to the oral bacteria in their mouth. But unlike other types of sugars, oral bacteria cannot feed on Xylitol. Without food, the oral bacteria responsible for cavities cannot multiply.

Xylitol also helps maintain a neutral pH in the mouth. Sugary foods tend to increase acidity and lower pH in the mouth. When the pH falls too low, your child's teeth will begin to decay. But you can prevent this issue by adding xylitol products to their oral routine. 

Get Dental Sealants 

Your child might be brushing and flossing their teeth every day, but that might not be enough to get rid of plaque on their teeth, especially around their molars. Thankfully, dental sealants can protect your child from excessive plaque buildup on their teeth.

Dental sealants are plastic coatings that a pediatric dentist applies on the surface of your child's molars. The coating keeps plaque away from your child's teeth, which ultimately prevents tooth decay. 

Dental experts recommend getting sealants when a child's molars erupt. This usually happens when they're between 6 and 12 years of age.

For more information, contact a company like Geelong Dental Group.