{"id":1475,"date":"2025-02-13T21:21:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T21:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=1475"},"modified":"2025-04-07T21:20:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T21:20:29","slug":"prevent-cavities-sweet-tooth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/13\/prevent-cavities-sweet-tooth\/","title":{"rendered":"My Kid Likes Candy and Soda Pop; How Can I Prevent Cavities?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AdobeStock_330267348__1741200813_34946.jpg\" alt=\"Child smiles at dentist\" class=\"wp-image-1476\" style=\"width:283px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AdobeStock_330267348__1741200813_34946.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AdobeStock_330267348__1741200813_34946-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/AdobeStock_330267348__1741200813_34946-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If your child seems to be programmed to love the taste of sugar, it is probably because this chemical is filled with simple chemical energy that the body can easily absorb. Unfortunately, harmful oral bacteria love sugar for exactly the same reason, and allowing the residue left by sweet items like candy and soda to accumulate in the mouth can lead to serious oral infections like tooth decay and periodontitis. Here\u2019s a brief guide to how you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/checkups-and-cleanings.html\">protect your child\u2019s smile<\/a> when they are enjoying sweets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Child\u2019s Teeth Want Them to Drink Plenty of Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Water makes an excellent beverage not only because it is absolutely essential to life as we know it, but also because it helps dilute harmful substances and wash them away from the teeth. Water also helps you maintain healthy saliva flow, which protects your teeth by keeping them lubricated, clean, and nourished. When your child is enjoying candy, cake, or a can of soda, it\u2019s a great idea to have them drink a tall glass of water alongside it to help flush the sugar out of their mouth and prevent accumulations of bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prepare Your Child\u2019s Toothbrush and Floss for a Thorough Oral Hygiene Session<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When your child is done enjoying a sweet treat, it\u2019s a great idea to have them treat their teeth to a thorough brushing session. By brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash, they can kill harmful bacteria and remove nasty accumulations of sugary residue and food debris. Just remember to have them wait at least thirty minutes after eating before brushing so their enamel has time to recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">See Your Pediatric Dentist Regularly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next to proper at-home oral hygiene and smart eating decisions, regular dental visits are the most important things for your child\u2019s oral health. During a routine checkup, their dentist will carefully examine their teeth, clean the plaque and tartar from even the most hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of their mouth, and recommend better oral habits to help them keep their pearly whites healthy. These visits also allow them to address any issues in their early stages, which can spare your child from the worst of the damage sugar can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t let your child sacrifice their whole smile for the sake of their sweet tooth. With the right precautions, they can enjoy their sweets in moderation while keeping their smile beautiful and healthy. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Allen Pearson earned his dental degree from the Creighton University School of Dentistry and completed a one-year General Practice Residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He earned his Pediatric Dental Specialty Certificate by completing advanced training at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Eastman Dental College. His office offers pediatric general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To schedule your child\u2019s next checkup, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/contact.html\">contact his office online<\/a> or dial <strong>(972) 429-7070<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your child seems to be programmed to love the taste of sugar, it is probably because this chemical is filled with simple chemical energy that the body can easily absorb. Unfortunately, harmful oral bacteria love sugar for exactly the same reason, and allowing the residue left by sweet items like candy and soda to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Can I Protect My Child From Cavities? | Dr. Allen Pearson<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Consuming too much sugar is known to cause tooth decay and gum disease. Here\u2019s how to protect your child\u2019s oral health if they have a sweet tooth.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wyliechildrensdentistry.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/13\/prevent-cavities-sweet-tooth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Can I Protect My Child From Cavities? | Dr. Allen Pearson\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Consuming too much sugar is known to cause tooth decay and gum disease. 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