The Rule of Two = Good Oral Hygiene

Cavities are the most basic form of tooth decay, and children are particularly susceptible. Proper home hygiene and diet along with regular dental exams and teeth cleaning visits are the best defense against cavities. However, sometimes cavities can be hard to prevent. Some kids are at a higher risk for cavities because of the nature of their teeth, how they’re positioned and the balance of good and bad bacteria in the mouth. That’s why regular trips to the dentist are so important.

The sooner a child starts to see the dentist, the quicker we can identify conditions that contribute to a greater risk of developing cavities.

Keeping baby teeth healthy is extremely important. Some parents believe that it’s not important to treat cavities in baby teeth because their child will lose these teeth eventually anyway. However, untreated cavities in baby teeth can have serious consequences on the dental and overall health of your child. Children with untreated decay may experience infection and severe pain, tooth loss, gum disease, sleep loss, inability to eat and poor self-esteem.

In addition, a single untreated cavity can harbor bacteria and potentially spread decay to other baby teeth as well as to the permanent teeth right beneath the surface.

Tooth decay in children of all ages needs to be monitored very closely because of the short-term and lifelong adverse consequences and impact that dental disease can have if left untreated.

Good oral hygiene is easy to do when you follow the “rule of two” – Brush two times a day for two minutes each time and visit the dentist two times a year. And remember to floss at least one a day!