Parents: Beware of Tooth Decay in Kids
 |
|
| James Grieco, DMD, is a pediatric dentist at the Chelmsford office. |
First smile. First word. First tooth. Your child will achieve many "firsts" during the first year of life and all of these milestones contribute to the child's growth and development. Your child's primary teeth will erupt around 5-6 months of age, and during the next two to three years, will acquire a full complement of 20 primary teeth. The teeth and the continuing growth of the oral cavity and facial structures play an important part in the nutritional and social development of the young child. In addition, the primary teeth serve as space maintainers in the arch to maintain room for the permanent teeth that will erupt at a later date.
As the teeth erupt into the mouth they are quickly covered with a thin, sticky film called plaque. Within the plaque are bacteria that use sugars to produce acids that attack tooth enamel, causing decay or caries. A severe form of dental caries called baby bottle tooth decay, or early childhood caries, is a serious condition that can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child.
Causes
The condition is caused by frequent exposure to sugary liquids for long periods. These include breast milk, formula, fruit juices and other sweetened liquids. It is not just what the child drinks, but how long the teeth are exposed to the decay-causing acids that can lead to this condition. When the child is put to bed at night with a bottle of milk or fruit juice, the prolonged exposure to acids and the decrease in salivary flow during sleep can rapidly destroy the child's teeth. However, it is not just bedtime exposure to sugary liquids that can cause early childhood caries. Children who are allowed to carry a bottle around throughout the day as a type of "liquid pacifier" are at increased risk of continuous acid attack and the resulting tooth destruction. Children who develop this severe form of dental decay are subject to toothaches, difficulty in eating and possible serious mouth and facial infections.
Prevention and treatment
You can prevent this condition by gently cleaning your child's teeth
with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad after each feeding. A
nursing bottle should not be used as a pacifier or sleep aid unless
it contains water. As your child erupts more teeth, a small pea-sized
amount of toothpaste can be used to brush the teeth.
Dental visits
The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry recommend a first visit to the dentist at the time of
your child's first birthday. Although the visit may seem to be early,
it is similar in purpose to your child's first visit to the pediatrician.
This visit assesses the child's growth and development, caries risk
potential, and determines if dental caries are present. The need
for supplemental fluoride is determined, oral hygiene instruction
is given, and any questions from the parent can be answered. Also,
the early visit and subsequent periodic examinations begin the process
of establishing a trusted, caring relationship between the dentist
and the child. This resulting bond will greatly facilitate further
dental care, especially if restorative treatment becomes necessary.