METHODS FOR PREVENTING DENTAL CARIES IN CHILDREN

Abstract: Childhood dental caries is a preventable, biofilm-mediated, sugar-driven, multifactorialdisease that can cause pain, infection, impaired nutrition, sleep disturbance, school absence, andsubstantial treatment burden.Background: Current prevention is based on repeated caries-risk assessment, twice-daily use ofage-appropriate fluoride toothpaste, reduction of free-sugar frequency, establishment of a dentalhome in infancy, professional fluoride varnish, pit-and-fissure sealants, silver diamine fluoride, andminimally invasive care.Objective: To review evidence-based home, clinical, family, and school-level methods forpreventing caries in children and to identify common causes of programme failure.Materials and methods: A narrative review of AAPD manuals, WHO guidance, USPSTFrecommendations, systematic reviews, and selected clinical guidelines published or updated through2026. Interventions were assessed by mechanism, effectiveness, frequency of application, feasibility,safety, and monitoring requirements.Results: No single product can compensate for frequent sugar exposure, inadequate brushing, orabsent follow-up. The minimum effective package is supervised brushing twice daily with fluoridetoothpaste, practical reduction of free-sugar frequency, risk-based professional fluoride, early dentalattendance, and sealant assessment for newly erupted molars. High-risk children may additionallybenefit from repeated varnish, 38% silver diamine fluoride, and minimally invasive treatment. Conclusion: Prevention succeeds when the family receives a simple, measurable plan and cliniciansmonitor lesion activity, behaviour, fluoride exposure, sealant retention, and recall attendance overtime.