September 11, 2018 0 Comments

Tooth decay in Toddlers – Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Tooth decay affects toddlers as much as it affects adults. One of the parent’s priority concerns includes their little one’s tooth decay because 42 percent of children aged 2 till 11 develop a cavity in their primary teeth and about 28 percent of children aged 2 to 5 develop at least one cavity. There are many causes and risks of developing tooth decay, and prevention is better than treatment. You can protect your toddler’s teeth and prevent tooth decay by regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and sensible eating and drinking habits.

Tooth decay occurs in toddlers when bacteria within the mouth begin to eat away at the primary teeth. Tooth decay is also known as a cavity or dental caries. Inadequate dental care and not brushing your child’s teeth enough can be causes of decay. Cavities can develop when sugar-containing foods are allowed to stay in the mouth for a long time. Bacteria that live on the teeth feast on these bits of food and can eat away at tooth enamel. Saliva washes away the acid between meals, but if your child is always eating, there may not be time for this acid to get washed away.

And a common cause for toddler tooth decay is going to bed with a bottle. This particular condition is known as baby bottle tooth decay. The milk or juice from the bottle can sit in your kid’s mouth all night and create an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Unhealthy eating habits contribute to tooth decay, too. Allowing your child to suck on candy for prolonged periods or to eat a lot of sugary foods will play a role.

  • Make sure you brush and floss your child’s teeth daily, and be sure to avoid sugary foods.
  • Foods that are high in acid, such as citrus fruits, will weaken the enamel and make your child more susceptible to cavities.
  • Your child should see the dentist for the first time before his first birthday.
  • To prevent tooth decay in toddlers, you shouldn’t let your child go to bed with a bottle or a sippy cup of milk or juice. If you give your child a drink before bed or to help him go to sleep, always choose water.
  • You should brush your toddler’s teeth with a soft-bristled brush at least twice a day and after your child eats sweets. You shouldn’t, however, use fluoride toothpaste until your little one is at least 2 years old or when he can spit the fluoride toothpaste out of his mouth and not swallow it. To brush correctly, you or your child should hold the brush at a 45-degree angle and use gentle strokes over the entire surface of the teeth and along the gum line. Each brushing should last at least 2 minutes.

Once a child has developed tooth decay, he will require dental work. Fillings may be used to correct smaller cavities, and a full crown may be needed if the damage is extensive. This will prevent the bacteria from spreading. A tooth that has decay throughout may have to be extracted because the bacteria can cause the secondary or adult teeth, to develop abnormally. Pitting or staining in the adult teeth may occur if decay is severe enough in the primary teeth.

As a parent, in addition to your role in the protection of your child’s baby and adult teeth, you’re laying the groundwork for his oral hygiene for the rest of his life. This means you should start good habits early so that he maintains a healthy set of adult teeth. The fact that your toddler’s teeth are going to fall out doesn’t mean you can ignore a child’s oral care.

Good oral health habits will prevent tooth decay in the first set of teeth, and the habits your child learns will stick with him throughout his life.

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