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Early childhood tooth decay is a serious disease found in the teeth of infants and toddlers from as young as 1 year of age. It begins by damaging the structure of a tooth and can lead to a cavity (hole) in the tooth. Once your child has teeth, he or she is at risk for tooth decay.
What causes early childhood tooth decay?
When your child's teeth are repeatedly exposed to sugars for a long period of time, this can cause tooth decay. Here's how. Plaque, an invisible film that sticks firmly to our teeth, contains bacteria (germs). When sugars found in breast milk, formula, cow's milk or juice mix with the bacteria in your child's mouth, this creates a mild acid. This acid forms in the plaque, causing tooth decay to eat away at the hard outer layer of your child's teeth (called the enamel). Over time, the enamel gets soft and cavities can form.
The good news is that saliva production can help protect teeth from this damaging acid. During a meal, your child's mouth produces a great deal of saliva. This saliva protects the teeth by neutralizing the acids produced by the sugars.
The bad news is that swallowing and saliva production slow down when we fall asleep. If your child falls asleep with milk, juice, formula or any drink other than water in the mouth, it will pool around the teeth. Over time, this may cause tooth decay.
Our saliva production also slows down between meals. If your child drinks freely throughout the day from a bottle or sippy cup filled with drinks other than water, the front teeth are repeatedly coated with sugars. Over time, this may eventually cause tooth decay as well, espacially in the front teeth.
Signs of early childhood tooth decay
Early childhood tooth decay causes cavities that you can see on the front and back of the top 4 front teeth. In advanced cases, other teeth in the mouth are also affected. Once your child has teeth, check them once a week for any signs of tooth decay.
To do this, lay your child on your lap with his or her head tilted back. Lift the lips and look at the front and back of the top front teeth. If your child has molars (back teeth) check them as well. Here's what to look for:
Another sign may be crying when your child eats cold, sweet or hard food. If you see any of these signs, go to the dentist right away. If your own dentist does not see very young children, ask his or her office for a referral to a pediatric dentist or for the name of a dental office or public health dental clinic that does. Early childhood tooth decay must be treated quickly. If it is not treated right away, this disease can cause your child needless pain and infection.
Stopping early childhood tooth decay
The good news is that early childhood tooth decay is preventable. Here are ways to stop it:
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Never put your child to bed with a bottle or sippy cup of milk, breast milk, formula, juice or any drink other than water.
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When bottle-feeding, remove the nipple when your child has finished feeding and is still awake. If your child falls asleep, remove the nipple from your child's mouth and wipe the teeth with a cloth to remove the remaining milk.
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ONLY put breast milk, formula or water in a baby bottle. Do not put milk, juice or any sweetened drink in a baby bottle.
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Try to wean your baby from a bottle by age 1 by encouraging your child to drink from a cup.
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Never give your child a pacifier (soother) dipped in sugar, honey, corn syrup or other sweetened liquids.
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Between meals, water is the best drink. Don't let your child drink freely throughout the day from a bottle or sippy cup of any drink other than water. Serve juice or milk in a cup at mealtimes.
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Clean your child's gums and teeth every day. Wipe the gums with a clean cloth and brush your child's teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Start cleaning your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.
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Bring your child to the dentist within 6 months of the arrival of the first tooth or by age 1.
Breaking the bedtime bottle habit
If you give your child a bottle at bedtime, stopping all at once will not be easy. To stop this habit, try putting water in the bottle. If this is turned down, try giving your child a clean soother. If your child cries, do not give up. Comfort your child and try again. It may take several nights to wean your child off the bottle. You may also want to try watering down your child's bottle over a week or 2 until there is only plain water left.
Why repair a baby tooth that is eventually going to fall out?
Your child's primary (baby) teeth are important and may be in your child's mouth until age 12. Your child needs these teeth to eat and to learn to speak properly. The health of your child's primary teeth can affect the health of the permanent (adult) teeth. Primary teeth hold the space for permanent teeth and help guide then into the correct position. They also contribute to healthy jaw development. Broken or infected teeth can affect your child's self-image.
The Canadian Dental Association recommends that parents bring their child to the dentist within 6 months of the arrival of the first tooth or by 1 year of age.
A dentist can treat early childhood tooth decay in a number of ways. The type of treatment depends on how badly the tooth is damaged. Treatments range from fluoride varnishes to dental fillings, crowns and tooth extractions (pulling out a tooth). Tooth extraction is needed when a tooth has been so badly damaged by decay there there is not enough of the tooth left to hold a dental filling.
If your young child needs dental treatment, your dentist may refer you to a pediatric dental specialist. A pediatric dentist has completed a university post-graduate specialty program in pediatric dentistry. Pediatric dentistry is a specialty of dentistry concerned with providing preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs.
By starting a good oral health routine with your child that includes cleaning your child's gums and teeth everyday and regular visits to the dentist, you will teach your child how to keep a healthy smile for life.
This content was inspired from publications produced by The Canadian Dental Association.
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