Your child's
baby teeth are important. Children need strong, healthy
teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking
smile. Baby teeth also keep a space in the jaw for the adult
teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the teeth beside
it may drift into the empty space. When it's time for the
adult teeth to come in, there may not be enough room. This
can make the teeth crooked or crowded. Starting infants off
with good oral care can help protect their teeth for decades
to come.
Your child’s
baby teeth are at risk for decay as soon as they first
appear-which is typically around age six months. Tooth decay
in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle
Tooth Decay or Early Childhood Caries (cavities). It most
often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may
also be affected. In some unfortunate cases, infants and
toddlers have experienced decay so severe that the teeth
cannot be repaired and need to be removed. The good news is
that decay is preventable.
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Mild Dental Decay |
Moderate Dental Decay |
Severe Dental Decay |
Tooth decay
is a disease that begins with cavity-causing bacteria
being passed from the mother (or primary caregiver) who
has these bacteria in their mouth to the infant. These
bacteria are passed through the saliva. When the mother
puts the baby’s feeding spoon in her mouth, or cleans a
pacifier in her mouth, the bacteria are passed to the
baby.
Another factor for tooth decay is the
frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to
liquids that contain sugar, like sweetened water and
fruit juice and potentially milk, breast milk and
formula. Tooth decay can occur when the baby is put to
bed with a bottle, or when a bottle is used as a
pacifier for a fussy baby. The sugary liquids pool
around the teeth while the child sleeps. Bacteria in the
mouth use these sugars as food. They then produce acids
that attack the teeth. Each time your child drinks these
liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. After
multiple attacks, the teeth can decay.
Pacifiers dipped in sugar or honey
can also lead to tooth decay since the sugar or honey
can provide food for the bacteria’s acid attacks.
Infants and toddlers who do not
receive an adequate amount of fluoride may also have an
increased risk for tooth decay since fluoride combines
with the outer covering of the tooth (enamel) and makes
the tooth more resistant to the acid attack.
Treatment
When your child’s first tooth
appears, talk to your dentist about scheduling the first
dental visit. Treat the first dental visit as you would
a well-baby checkup with the child’s physician. It’s
beneficial for the first dental visit to occur within
six months after the first tooth appears, but no later
than your child’s first birthday. Although this may seem
early, starting early is the key to a lifetime of good
dental health.
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