According to data from the Oral Health Survey in Spain 2020, a third of children under 6 years of age have cavities in the primary dentition and three out of 10 12-year-old children suffer from this pathology. Likewise, the survey reveals that children of the lowest social level suffer three times more from cavities.

Regarding the age ranges, 15% of children between 2 and 5 years old, accumulate 80% of the total caries pathology and only 4 out of 10 brush at least twice a day. As a result, one in three children under 6 years old has cavities and 80% of them are untreated, representing 7 million affected baby teeth.

From the General Council of Dentists it is recommended to start with good hygiene habits as soon as possible, brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste, and taking into account each childhood stage:

Newborns and Babies:

- Keep your gums clean, massaging them with a damp gauze.

- Do not share cutlery, glasses, etc., to avoid exchanging the bacteria that cause oral diseases.

- When the first teeth appear, start brushing. Use fluoridated toothpaste (size of a grain of rice).

- When he turns his first year, make an appointment with the dentist. 2 to 5 years

- About 12-16 months it is recommended to stop using the bottle. Likewise, the pacifier should not be used beyond two years.

- Use fluoridated toothpaste equivalent to the size of a pea.

- Avoid drinks or sugary cereals in the bottle because they favor the appearance of cavities.

- It is important that you drink water and if it is fluoridated better. from 6 to 12 years old

- If they do physical contact sports, wear a mouth guard.

- At these ages, dental trauma is very frequent. If it happens, go to the dentist as soon as possible to avoid major problems.

- Encourage healthy food and avoid bottled juices or soft drinks.

- Ask your dentist about dental sealants. Sealants protect up to 80% of cavities

The sealant is a thin layer that is placed on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (molars), acting as a protective shield that blocks germs and food, protecting up to 80% of cavities.

Children ages 6 to 11 without sealants have nearly three times more decayed first molars than children with sealants. It is important that the sealant is periodically checked by the dentist to verify that it continues to be in place, fulfilling its protective function.