Early Childhood tooth decay and how to prevent it

Early Childhood Tooth decay is defined as the presence of one or more decayed, missing or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a child between birth and 71 months of age.

Decay can destroy the teeth of an infant or a young child. It is important to begin caring for teeth soon after your baby is born. More often than not, it is the child’s upper four front teeth that are the most often damaged.

What causes early childhood tooth decay?

Early childhood tooth decay takes place when a child’s teeth are continuously exposed to liquids that contain sugar, for example: milk, breast milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas, and other sweetened drinks. The sugars in these liquids pool around your infant’s teeth and gums. The bacteria that live in the mouth mix with these sugars causing tooth decay. While your child sleeps, the flow of saliva slows down, allowing sugary liquids to pool around their teeth for a longer period of time. Therefore you should be especially careful not to give your child a sugary drink at nap or bedtime, or let them carry a bottle throughout the day.

How serious is early childhood tooth decay?

It can cause painful toothaches, which will make eating and sleeping difficult. Teeth with serious decay can also become infected and will need to be taken out. If your child’s teeth are infected or lost too early, they may have these problems:

• Poor eating habits

• Speech and language issues

• Crooked teeth

• Damaged adult teeth

 How to prevent early childhood tooth decay

Sometimes, parents don’t realize that their child’s teeth can begin to decay as soon as they appear. You can prevent this by doing the following:

• Wipe the child’s teeth and gums with a damp washcloth or small soft toothbrush after every feeding to remove plaque.

• Brush their teeth twice a day as soon as they appear with a smear of children’s toothpaste.

• Don’t let your child fall asleep with a bottle that has sweet liquid in it.  If they refuse to fall asleep without a bottle, fill it with water and nothing else.

• Do not use a bottle as a pacifier.

• Teach your child to drink from a cup by the age of 12-18 months.

• Do not put anything sweet on their soother or pacifier.

Book an appointment with Dental House as soon as your child’s teeth begin to come in.  We can advise you on the best routine to follow to promote good oral health in your child as they grow.