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Dear parents and children! Here, at HappyDent Clinic, the temporary (milk) teeth are very important. We know that the popular wisdom says that … baby teeth fall out anyway … and they should not be treated! But no one counts the child’s and it family’s sleepless nights, no one counts the child’s frustrations when he can’t bite/ chew an apple or other delicious fruit, no one measures the child’s growth and developmental deficiency unable to eat because of the discomfort/pain of chewing …? A few parents know that if these – baby teeth – are lost prematurely, the remaining teeth can migrate, and thus the space needed for permanent teeth – waiting to erupt in a phylogenetically established order – will be altered / will not be preserved. Yes, you can say and it is true, cavities can still be treated, but the treatment is expensive considering that in Romania, although pedodontic treatments are free – we invite you to check this information – it is valid only in legal provisions and not in current practice. In addition, controlling the pain and fear/anxiety of young patients means having a specialized medical team and expensive equipment. Dental cavities are the most common chronic infectious of the childhood diseases – in the first stage of childhood it is also called “baby bottle decay“.
Early prevention is a classic principle of teeth care and should be implemented as early as possible because tooth cavities can develop with the eruption of the first teeth in the oral cavity.
Causes of cavities in babies
Dental cavities develop when the baby’s mouth is populated by acid-producing bacteria. Even parents and caretakers (nannies) can transmit bacteria to babies through saliva. For example, bacteria can be transmitted using spoons or cutlery contaminated with the parent’s saliva, tasting food before feeding babies, and cleaning the bottle with saliva.
Tooth decay also develops if the baby’s teeth and gums are exposed to a liquid or food, other than water for long periods of time or frequently, during the day. Natural or artificial sugars from liquids and food are turned into acids by oral cavity bacteria. These acids dissolve the outer coatings of the tooth causing tooth decay.
The most common way this happens is when parents take their children to bed, giving them a bottle of formula milk powder, milk, natural juice (even if mixed with water), carbonated juices, sugar water, or drinks that contain sugar. It can also occur when children are allowed to drink anything other than water during the day or night. Milk should be served only with meals and should not be offered during the day, at noon, or in the evening before bedtime. Although breastfeeding frequently and for long periods does not cause tooth decay, all mothers that breastfeed their babies should be aware of the importance of implementing oral hygiene, fluoridation, dental prophylaxis, and having a healthy diet. However, breastfeeding during the night is considered to have a cariogenic effect, considering that at night, the baby’s mouth is like a warm incubator in which cariogenic bacteria turns the milk membrane remained attached to its teeth into acids.
Signs of cavities in babies
Dental cavities may first appear as whitish spots near the edge of the gum at the upper front teeth level. These spots are difficult to notice at first, even by the child’s pediatrician or dentist, without any proper equipment. However, mothers can examine their babies carefully, in advance. A child with early tooth decay should be examined and treated as soon as possible, to stop them from spreading, and to prevent any complications that may occur later on.
Prevention of dental caries in babies
To prevent tooth decay, HappyDent Clinic recommends that you follow these steps:
- Take care of your own oral health even before the baby is born. It is important and recommended to visit the dentist during pregnancy.
- Whether you choose to breastfeed or use formula, it is very important to take care of your baby’s teeth.
- From birth to 12 months old: Keep your baby’s mouth clean by gently wiping their gums with special baby wipes. With the appearance of the first teeth on the mouth arch, lightly brush with a soft baby toothbrush and use fluoride toothpaste (being the size of your child’s little fingernail)
- Between 12 and 36 months old: Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day for 2 minutes. Use fluoride toothpaste until the age of 3 years. The best times for brushing are after breakfast and before bed, but always half an hour after any meals.
- Always avoid accepting/inviting the child to bed, giving them a bottle of milk or other foods. These not only expose their teeth to sugars, but also can put your child at risk of developing ear infections and asphyxiation.
- Do not use any bottle as a feeder and don’t leave any food or drinks within reach of the child for long periods of time. If he/she wants the feeder between meals, it may be filled with water.
- Check if your running water is fluoridated. It is beneficial for your child to consume fluoride-containing water. If your running water comes from a well or other sources that do not contain added fluoride, your child’s doctor may prescribe fluoride supplements. Its dentist may also apply topical substances with fluoride/varnishes or sealants to protect them from cavities.
- Educate your child to drink from a normal cup as early as possible, preferably between 12 and 15 months old. Drinking fluids from a normal cup is less likely to cause their teeth to collect. Also, the cup should not be brought near the bed.
- If he really wants to keep their bottle for longer periods, it should only be filled with water. During car rides, the child will only be given water when he is thirsty.
- Limit the amount of sweets or sticky foods, such as candies, jellies, cakes, caramels, gummies, etc. Sugars are also found in foods such as biscuits and chips. These foods are harmful, especially they are often consumed by the child. It should be eaten only during meals.
- Natural juices will be served only during meals or not at all. It is not recommended for babies younger than 6 months to consume natural juices. If you give your 6-12 months old baby natural juices, it should be limited to 100ml per day and diluted with water (50% -50%). For children between 1 and 6 years old, any type of juice should be limited to the amount of 100-150ml per day.
- Make an appointment with your child’s dentist before the age of 1. If you have any questions or concerns, ask for the appointment to be made earlier. If no dentist is available to examine your child up to the age of 1, a licensed pediatrician can examine their oral cavity, applying fluoride-releasing topical substances, and providing you with information on maintaining your child’s health.
HappyDent Clinic recommendations, in short!
- Tooth decay can be prevented. Talk to your pediatrician or dentist if you notice any signs of tooth decay at your child’s teeth or if you have any questions about your child’s teeth. With the right care, your child can grow up having healthy teeth and a lifetime of smiles.
- All children deserve to receive an oral health assessment during doctor visits, from the age of 6 months, and local fluoridation from the eruption of the first teeth, until the age of 5 years.
- All children should be assigned a dentist from the age of 6 months. If a dentist is not available, talk to your pediatrician about how to maintain your child’s oral health.
- All children must have a rigorous examination and regular dental care in their early stages of childhood.
- Parents should impose limits on the consumption of foods and drinks during the day, reducing their intake to 3 meals and 2 snacks a day (with healthy foods and juices in a limited amount). Frequent exposure to sugars in food and beverages can cause a predisposition to cavities.
- Parents should brush their children’s teeth using fluoride-containing toothpaste, starting from the eruption of the first tooth on the mouth’s arch.
Our team / HappyDent Clinic wishes you a lot of dental health!
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