Decay-Alert: How to Know if Your Child Has a Cavity

Besides schoolwork and showers, cavities are one of the kid’s worst enemies. Bad oral hygiene and skipping visits to a North Texas family dental office can increase the chances of untreated tooth decay, leaving it to foster and cause irreparable damage to your child’s mouth.

Cavities are often dark and painful, making identification easy. But if your child isn’t talking about his discomfort or hasn’t noticed something is amyss yet, here are some signs that may indicate he has a cavity before you end up needing an emergency dental visit.  

5 Signs Your Child May Have a Cavity

1. Persistent Toothache

Persistent toothaches are a clear indicator that something is wrong. Adult teeth erupting, loose baby teeth, or even cracks or damage to their teeth can cause pain in your child’s mouth, making it fundamental to see a dentist for their professional assessment.

Of course, cavities could also be the cause. Depending on the extent of the decay, their tooth pain could be anything from a slight ache to a throbbing pain. Ask your child to rate the pain on a scale of 1 to 10 or whether it worsens when they bite into food or eat hot, cold, or sugary foods.

2. Increased Sensitivity to Hot and Cold

One of the most common symptoms of tooth decay in children and adults is increased sensitivity to temperature changes. The underlying dentin is revealed when your protective enamel is damaged, putting the nerves inside your teeth closer to the temperatures of your food.

So, if your child cries out in pain or complains about the temperature of their hot chocolate or ice cream cone, there may be a cavity.

3. Dark Areas on the Surfaces of Your Child's Teeth

Dark patches, pits, or holes in your child's teeth could be obvious cavity symptoms. Cavities frequently appear as white, brown, or black spots on the tooth surface.  

Of course, stains can also cause discoloration, so visit a dental office right away to determine the cause.

4. Bad Breath

If you can detect persistent bad breath even after brushing and flossing, your child may have tooth decay. Bad breath is caused by the bacteria that cause cavities, which produce foul-smelling gases.

Ask them if they sense an unpleasant taste in their mouth, too. Chewing food close to a decayed tooth can produce a foul taste.

5. Textural Variations in Teeth

Another indicator of a cavity is a change in texture in your child’s teeth. Cavities can cause pits and small holes, which feel rough or uneven if your child runs their tongue over them.

A common indicator of this is having your floss break easily when passing it through two teeth with decay.

Learn to Identify Cavities and Visit a North Texas Family Dental Office!

Cavities are often associated with excruciating pain or unsightly dark spots, but the symptoms of tooth decay aren’t always as noticeable as we may think. In these cases, paying attention to all the possible signs can be crucial to identifying decay early on.

Then, by visiting Savannah Dental, we can remove decay and restore your child’s smile to optimal condition. If you believe this may be what you need, reach out!