Stop Existing Decay

February 18th, 2009 by Mark Mutschler

If your young child has small cavities, there are three things that we do in our Portland and Oregon City pediatric dental office to arrest or stop the decay from getting worse and to delay needed repairs until your child is old enough to tolereate conventional fillings.

1. Fluoride supplements plus brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste is not enough to stop active decay. Your child should also get a rice -sized speck of toothpaste placed directly on the cavities with your finger several times daily.

2. Sweets (including juice, granola, and dried fruit) feed the germs that cause cavities. Reduce the number of times your child gets sweets instead of removing them entirely. After holiday treats have been eaten in one day, the Sweet Fairy can come and take away the rest, leaving a prize instead.

3. Medicines applied to a cavity in our East Portland or Oregon City office every 2-3 months can strengthen the tooth and fight the germs. They only work when the recommendations for fluoride and sweets are also followed at home.

If your kid has cavities that you would like us to take care of, call either our office in Oregon City or in East Portland.