My son brushes 2 times a day and has 5 cavities WHY????

Answer 1

when i was little i brushed my teeth 3 times a day and i ended up having 2 root canals when i was 10 years old...he may need a gentler toothbrush....a stiff toothbrush may be wearing away his enamel also he should floss and use mouthwash because brushing your teeth doesn't get all the germs and plaque off your teeth and that can cause cavities to start from the inside of your tooth

Answer 2

Juices and sodas are common sources of cavities. Juices really have no nutritional value for the most part and are just concentrated sugars.

Also, how is he brushing? Maybe he is not brushing correctly. I had a dentist say once that even children up to 10-years of age need parents checking how they brush.

There is also a new mouthwash out for children that help them to see the leftover stuff on their teeth by Listerine. When I was a child, we had these pink pills that you chewed after you brushed and it showed you the spots you missed.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

My daughter just turned 3 and recently went to the dentist to have 10 cavities filled! We couldn't have them fixed prior because she didn't weigh enough for anesthesia. We also brush her teeth at least 2x per day, but my husband's family has terrible teeth genetically. Our pediatric dentist told me that really, there's nothing we could have done to prevent her cavities, short of only feeding her water (obviously not an option). Depending on the age of your child, if they do go to bed with a bottle, make sure it is only water. Otherwise, there may be nothing you can actually do but your best and invest in good dental insurance.

Answer 4

Enamel strength and saliva pH are genetically determined, though enamel strength is also effected by diet. You can't change your genees

Bacteria strains in the mouth are often picked up from other family member, but sometimes appear from no where. Strep Mutans and lactobacilli are the main causes of cavities. These bacteria create acid when exposed to sugar -so limiting the exposure to sugar will help prevent cavities. Don't allow your child to drink sugary liquids (including milk) all day. Sugary liquids should only be consumed at meals

Xylitol, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide can all be used to prevent cavites even in children who can not yet use fluoride.

Answer 5

I think everyone's mouth is different. My brother brushes 3+ times a day and I brush once or twice a day. Last time we went to the dentist I had one or two cavities while he had 7. Make sure he isn't eating alot of sugar though... I'm not a dentist so I couldn't tell you for sure! :D

Answer 6

Possibly cos he is not brushing correctly. I had the same problem. It just turned out I was brushing the front and backs thoroughly, but not really concentrating on the biting surface and ended up with a load of cavities. By the time I corrected my technique, the damage was done!

Thank god for white fillings!

Answer 7

Maybe he's eating too many sweets. He should brush after meals...I guess he can't at school, but he should brush after breakfast and after dinner. He should also floss at least once a day - best at bedtime.

Some dentist recommend coating the teeth to help prevent cavities. They do it in the office. Some insurance companies pay for it. I would only do this to his permanent teeth.

Answer 8

I was talking to my sister in law a few weeks ago about this. My niece is going to be 8 in July and she, her dad and mom all have a Staph infection in their mouth that was causing them to have cavities, even with brushing and flossing. Also, does he eat graham crackers? My mom's dentist told her that children should not eat these because the crumbs are so fine that they become imbedded in their teeth so tightly that brusing doesn't help. Keep other sweets to a minimum.

Answer 9

The number of cavities can be reduced by proper nutrition, good oral hygiene, fewer snacks in between meals, the use of oral or topical fluorides, and topical sealants.

Nutritional counseling - consuming less simple sugar (sucrose or table sugar) will reduce the number of acid- producing bacteria in the mouth. Adequate dietary calcium, phosphorous, vitamins A, D, and C promote healthy and strong enamel formation.


Home oral hygiene - brushing your teeth frequently helps reduce acid plaque damage to enamel, while frequent flossing removes the acid plaque from the smooth surfaces between teeth. If one cannot brush and floss immediately after a meal, he/she should try chewing self-cleaning foods at the end of the meal. These include apples and celery that are crunchy and help sweep away food debris and plaque. Chewing sugarless gum for a few minutes at the end of a meal can also help.


Eating fewer snacks in between meals - every snack is followed by an "acid attack" on the teeth. Therefore, snacking all day causes the teeth to be bathed in acid continuously. Fewer snacks and eating desserts only with meals help to reduce the number of "acid attacks" on teeth.


Fluorides - oral fluorides (fluoride tablets or fluoridated water) strengthen the developing enamel and dentin layers of children's teeth before they erupt. Topical fluorides fill in the pores of immature enamel or small early cavities and reduce cavities in already erupted teeth. Topical fluorides are usually painted on by the dentist, and later supplemented at home with topical fluoride gels.


Sealants - sealants are plastic coatings painted on the pits and fissures of chewing surfaces of back teeth (molars and bicuspids), and are highly effective in preventing cavities. Sealants are recommended for all permanent molars in children. They are also used to reduce cavities in baby teeth and in adult teeth that are cavity prone. The procedure is simple and painless, and no anesthesia is required.

Answer 10

Well it depends how old he is and what he eats.If he is under 5 you might want to brush his teeth at night.This way u get all the sugar off his teeth so he doesn't sleep with the sugar decaying his teeth.Plus he should brush 3 times aday. You need to show him the right way to brush and flose. Good luck