Can children's dental caries be treated with fluoride application?

Written by Wang Ji Zhong

Internal Medicine

Updated on June 13, 2025

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Children's dental caries are greatly related to fluoride deficiency, so fluoride application is a very important method to prevent dental caries. It is generally recommended that children have their teeth fluoridated once every 1-2 years, which has a very good effect in preventing dental caries. However, if caries have already occurred, dental treatment is needed. This treatment involves removing the necrotic carious tissue. If the teeth are just affected by decay of the dentin or enamel, then the necrotic dental tissue is removed and repaired. If pulpitis has developed, then root canal treatment is necessary. After treatment, fluoride application can also be performed to prevent further decay of the teeth.

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Is a cavity the same as tooth decay?

Cavities, also known as dental caries, are a chronic progressive destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. Once a tooth is affected by a cavity, it is necessary to fill the tooth as soon as possible. Otherwise, the bacteria will further infect the tooth, causing inflammation of the dental nerve. Inflammation results in significant pain, including sensitivity to hot and cold, pain intensified by temperature changes, and even symptoms of nighttime pain. The most typical symptom of pulpitis is nighttime pain, which can wake someone from sleep. Therefore, once cavities occur, it is crucial to remove the decayed part of the tooth and fill it promptly to prevent potential tooth loss.

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How to treat cavities in the early stage?

Cavities, also known as dental caries, are a chronic, progressive, destructive disease caused by bacterial infection of the hard tissues of the teeth. Based on clinical manifestations, cavities can be classified into incipient, moderate, and deep caries. Incipient caries are limited to the enamel layer and might present as demineralization of the teeth, a condition that can be treated with tooth remineralization. If the cavity reaches the dentin layer, clinically it is characterized by pain while eating or sensitivity to cold, heat, or sweet and sour stimuli, and this condition requires the removal of the decayed dental tissue followed by filling treatment. Early treatment of cavities usually does not involve noticeable pain; however, if not treated promptly, the decay can further progress and potentially lead to nerve infection of the tooth, causing severe pain.

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Dentistry

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Can cavities be transmitted to other people?

Cavities are not contagious to other people. Cavities themselves are not considered a contagious disease. The development of this condition is a long-term and complex process, not merely caused by the transmission of pathogens. Initially, there are some pits and fissures on a patient's teeth which are easily attacked by acidic substances produced by bacteria, leading to the demineralization of calcium in the enamel, thereby softening and collapsing the enamel. If a patient frequently consumes sweet foods and neglects oral hygiene, not brushing or rinsing thoroughly, it could lead to bacteria decomposing these sweet food residues, continually damaging the patient’s teeth and resulting in cavities.

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What will happen if a cavity is filled without being cleaned properly?

If tooth decay is not completely cleaned out before filling, bacteria can continue to develop and multiply within the tooth, leading to more severe decay and potentially causing diseases such as pulpitis or periapical periodontitis. It is recommended that patients with cavities should undergo treatment based on the severity of the decay. Mild cavities usually only cause minor changes in tooth color; this can be gently abraded and then treated with fluoride materials. If the cavity is more severe, the decayed material inside the cavity should be completely removed, and then light-cured resin material can be used for filling. Deeper cavities may also require a protective pulp base.

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Cavities that do not hurt still require root canal treatment.

Cavities that do not hurt may or may not require root canal treatment, depending on the extent of the decay. If the cavity has not reached the dental nerves, there will not be noticeable pain. In such cases, since the decay is relatively superficial, direct filling, or dental restoration can be performed without the need for root canal treatment. If the cavity is severe and has reached the dental nerves, causing the nerves to become necrotic and purulent, there will be no pain due to the loss of sensory function from nerve death. In these situations, root canal treatment is needed. This involves removing the infected dental nerves, followed by medicinal treatment of the root canal, and after the inflammation is controlled, filling of the root canal is performed. In other words, a painless cavity might actually be caused by necrosis and pus formation in the dental nerves, requiring root canal treatment.