Pediatric Dentist Advice: How to Tell Your Child Has a Cavity

A pediatric dentist can tell you some things are just unavoidable in the life as a child, and cavities are one of those instances. With all the prodding and encouragement to brush and floss well every day, and to make healthy food choices, your child may still end up getting a cavity. Your pediatric dentist can easily fix the issue once determined, and here are a few ways to tell that your child is dealing with a cavity:

Your child chews on only one side of their mouth. If you have a young child, they may not be able to properly communicate they’re suffering from pain in their mouth. If you can see that your child is consistently choosing to chew food on only one side of their mouth, and it’s always the same side, your child probably has a cavity.

You can see chalky white spots on your child’s teeth. When your child flashes a smile, and you can easily see white spots or other discolorations on their teeth/tooth, that is a sign that they have developed a cavity. Schedule an appointment with your pediatric dentist right away to have it looked at. 

Your child complains about pain while brushing. It may not be unusual for your child to complain about having to brush their teeth, but it may be abnormal for them to complain about pain while brushing. This is a key sign they are suffering from tooth sensitivity and most likely a cavity. 

Your child has a visibly swollen cheek. If you can tell that one of your child’s cheek is swollen compared to the other, that’s a sign something is out of whack, and needing to be immediately checked out. If your child can’t recall recently falling or bumping into something that may have caused a swollen cheek, be sure to call your pediatric dentist right away. 

Prepare your child for their filling appointment.  The best thing you can do for your child is to try to diminish any fears they have of seeing the dentist. If you appear to be calm with a positive attitude, your child will be more likely to not feel as nervous. Showing your child books and pictures of children seeing the dentist, will help to explain that it is a normal and positive experience. 

How to prevent cavities in the future. Once your child has seen your pediatric dentist and has gotten their cavity filled, there are certain foods and drinks you should limit as much as possible. Try to avoid giving your child sugary soda or fruit juice, avoid sticky foods like toffee and other types of candy, and try to see your pediatric dentist twice a year for checkups. 

If your child is experiencing any of the symptoms described above, be sure to contact your dental practitioner immediately to schedule an appointment. Your pediatric dentist will be able to confirm whether your child has a cavity, and the next steps needed to fix the problem along with tips on cavity prevention.