Introduction
You might think that your child’s milk teeth are not important, as they will fall off after some time. Well, baby teeth help your child to chew and also play a role in speech development. They are also crucial in the growth of healthy teeth when they grow up. So, if your little one has baby tooth decay, it will affect their oral health in the future too. According to the World Health Organization, dental caries, which we call tooth decay or dental cavities, is a major public health problem across the globe. It is the most prevalent condition that is included in the 2015 Global Burden of Disease Study. It ranks 12th for baby teeth, with 560 million children. Read on to find out the causes of baby tooth decay and its treatment.
What is baby tooth decay?
Tooth decay in baby teeth is also known as baby bottle tooth decay or early childhood caries or nursing bottle caries, which is basically the medical word for cavities or holes in teeth. Dr. Garima Yadav, Head of Dental Department at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, says children of any age can get cavities, but they form faster in baby teeth than in adult teeth (permanent teeth). They can start to develop as soon as baby teeth appear, which is usually between 6 months to one year of age.
What causes baby tooth decay?
Many mothers send their babies to bed with a bottle of milk. It’s not a good habit as it can lead to tooth decay. Here are some reasons for tooth decay:
1. Sugar: Cavities are caused by sugar and bacteria that live in the mouth. Bacteria turns sugar (found in food, drinks, and breast milk) into an acid that can damage or eat away the outer layer of the teeth called enamel.
2. Thin enamel: Enamel of baby teeth is thinner than what adults have, making it easier for bacteria to cause cavities.
3. Less saliva: Saliva helps wash away the acid formed by bacteria. If there is less saliva, there are more chances of getting cavities.
Ways to prevent baby tooth decay
Instead of letting your child go through the pain of having tooth decay, Dr. Yadav says it is better to prevent cavities from happening. Here is how to prevent cavities:
– Clean your baby’s teeth, gums, and tongue at least twice a day, using a clean wet cloth or sterile cotton after feeding and at bedtime.
– Clean your baby’s teeth and gums after giving medicines as they also have sugar.
– Use a bottle only during feeding time. Do not use a milk bottle as a pacifier.
– Do not put the baby to bed with a milk bottle in their mouth.
– Avoid giving sugary drinks and juice, especially between meals.
– Avoid giving sticky snacks or chocolates that stick to teeth and stay for a long time.
– Start brushing the baby’s teeth as soon as the first one appears.
– Use fluoride toothpaste for children.
– Visit the dentist regularly for early detection of cavities.
How to treat tooth decay in babies?
When it comes to treating baby tooth decay, there are many options:
1. Fillers: If detected early, healthy teeth can be maintained. The dentist will remove the infected part and fill it with inert materials.
2. Pulpotomy: If cavities reach the nerve, a specialized procedure called pulpotomy is done to save the tooth. This usually requires two to three sittings to clean the roots and fill with inert materials.
3. Crowns: Crowns are needed in some cases to restore aesthetics as well as the functioning of the tooth.
4. Extraction: In severely infected cases, extraction may be necessary, depending on the age of the child and the condition of the tooth.
5. Fluoride application: If the cavity problem has just started, fluoride can be used. It is applied by the dentist at an early age so that the enamel becomes more resistant to the action of acids.
Conclusion
As a parent, focus on your child’s dental health so that there is no place for cavities.
