Tooth Decay in Children

How can you help prevent baby bottle tooth decay in your child?

Although baby teeth are not permanent, it is incredibly important that they stay healthy until they fall out to make room for adult teeth. Cavities in toddlers and infants are known as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. These cavities can prevent children from having strong teeth to chew their food with, and can also cause tooth pain or sensitivity.

What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is most common in a child’s upper teeth, particularly in the front. However, it is possible in other places as well. These cavities can be caused by a number of things, most common of which is overexposure to sugary drinks. If a baby is usually put down for bed with a bottle in its mouth, or a bottle is commonly used to quiet a fussy baby, they are likely to get cavities in those front upper teeth, hence the name. Cavity-causing bacteria can also be passed from the mother to the baby through bacteria in the mother’s saliva. The bacteria slowly wear away at a baby’s teeth, causing decay in the long run.

Prevention

Thankfully, there are several ways to prevent your baby from having Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. First and foremost, it is vital to avoid passing bacteria to the baby. Do not lick your child’s spoons or put anything in your mouth that will later go into your baby’s mouth. You can also use a washcloth to wipe any baby food or milk from your baby’s gums after feeding. Once their baby teeth start to come in, use a baby toothbrush to gently brush your baby’s teeth, using a dab of fluoride toothpaste. After the age of 3, you can start using slightly more toothpaste, about the size of a pea. Use bottles for milk or formula only. If you put your child to bed with a bottle, it is especially important to avoid filling it with juice, soda, or any other sugary drink.

Conclusion

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay can be painful and prevent children from having strong, healthy teeth. These cavities can be caused by many things, such as sugary drinks and shared saliva. Thankfully, it is completely preventable by brushing your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste often, and teaching your child healthy dental habits once they are old enough to brush their teeth by themselves.

Worrying about tooth decay in your children probably isn’t at the top of your concerns, however, this is a problem that affects 42% of children ages 2 to 11. In fact, nearly 28% of children ages 2 to 5 develop at least one cavity.

We want all our patients to have happy, healthy smiles so we put together this handy guide for parents on how they can prevent tooth decay in children and what they can expect if their little one develops a cavity.

What Causes Tooth Decay in Children?

Tooth decay is caused when bacteria in the mouth begin to eat away at the primary teeth. This can happen due to:

• Inadequate dental care
• Not brushing your teeth
• Going to bed with a bottle (baby bottle tooth decay)
• Too many sugary treats

You Can Prevent Cavities Before They Happen

Although this a somewhat common problem in children, there are a few things you can do to prevent tooth decay in the first place.

• Limit sweets. Sweets every once in a while is just fine as let’s be honest, no one can resist them always! But it’s best to limit these sweet treats as they help bacteria to grow and can lead to tooth decay.
• Proper brushing technique. Brush with a fluoride toothpaste and use only a pea sized amount. Learn more about proper brushing techniques.
• Visit dentist regularly. It’s best to visit the dentist twice a year to make sure your child doesn’t have cavities or tooth decay. Once the back morals grow in, Dr. Payam will probably recommend applying dental sealants to help even more in cavity prevention.

What To Expect If Your Child Has Tooth Decay

If your child develops tooth decay, they will require dental work. This can range from a filling to correct smaller cavities, to a full crown for extensive damage. These procedures are necessary to prevent the bacteria from spreading and leading to more decay.

The fact that your child’s teeth will fall out doesn’t mean that you can ignore problems like tooth decay. If the decay is severe enough, it can damage the permanent teeth underneath. This is also the prime time to lay down the groundwork for good dental hygiene that your child will carry with them for the rest of their life.

Schedule your appointment today with Dr. Payam to get started on the path to great dental health!