Dental caries is common even in very young children. These cavities lead to premature tooth loss. Losing baby teeth due to decay not only negatively impacts nutrition, jaw development, and speech skills, but also causes a loss of self-confidence in the child's social life. Dental caries, which can be caused by factors such as nighttime feeding, improper brushing, and excessive consumption of processed and packaged foods, must be treated. Dentrum Private Oral and Dental Health Clinic in Adana explained what families should do to prevent dental caries in children.
The completion of baby teeth continues until the age of 3.
Baby teeth begin to erupt around the sixth month of a baby's life. The first baby teeth to emerge are usually the lower front teeth. It can take until the 33rd month for all baby teeth to fully erupt. After a child reaches six years of age, baby teeth gradually begin to be replaced by permanent teeth. This mixed dentition period, where both baby and permanent teeth are present in the mouth, continues until the child is 12 years old. These timeframes can vary by plus or minus six months.
Baby teeth affect children's nutrition, speech function, and jaw development.
The primary function of baby teeth is to ensure proper nutrition for the child. If the health of baby teeth is neglected, children may experience nutritional problems. Tooth decay not only impairs nutrition but also negatively impacts jaw development and speech skills. Another important function of baby teeth is to protect and guide the permanent teeth that will replace them. Therefore, neglecting the health of baby teeth can lead to positioning problems and orthodontic issues in the permanent teeth as well.
Nighttime feeding in babies can increase the risk of tooth decay.
Incorrect, irregular, and ineffective brushing of teeth, along with excessive consumption of sugary and chocolatey foods, are among the most important factors causing tooth decay. Failure to clean teeth after nighttime feeding, meaning when a baby falls asleep with a bottle or breast, also leads to early tooth decay in baby teeth. Neglecting dental hygiene also brings about significant health problems. Therefore, oral and dental health should be carefully managed from the moment babies' baby teeth begin to erupt. Initially, teeth can be cleaned with a gauze cloth and then with a finger brush. As the baby grows, a habit of brushing twice a day with age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste should be established.
Tooth decay leads to loss of self-confidence in children.
Cavities and tooth loss in the front teeth are aesthetically unappealing. This can lead to a loss of self-confidence, feelings of worthlessness, and poor psychological well-being in children's social lives. Cavities in the back teeth, on the other hand, make it difficult for the child to eat. They may also experience sleep disturbances at night due to toothaches. Cavities that are left untreated can progress and lead to dental infections. This can cause the premature loss of baby teeth. The loss of baby teeth means they cannot perform their space-maintaining function. This can lead to orthodontic problems such as crowding or narrowing of the space for permanent teeth.
Dental treatment is determined according to the level of decay.
Dental caries in children varies depending on the extent of the decay. The level of decay is determined through examination and X-rays. Treatment can then be performed using methods such as composite fillings, amputation, root canal treatment, or prefabricated crowns.
Toothpaste containing fluoride should be used.
Careful attention should be paid to the type of toothpaste children use. Toothpaste containing fluoride is one of the most effective ways to protect children's baby teeth from decay. Along with fluoride content, you should also ensure the toothpaste is age-appropriate for your child.
Applying honey and jam to pacifiers and baby bottles increases the risk of cavities.
Teeth grinding, pacifier use, mouth breathing, and thumb sucking are all bad oral habits. They can cause health problems in children such as skeletal and jaw deformities and occlusion disorders. Additionally, children who breathe through their mouths or use pacifiers dipped in honey or jam have an increased risk of cavities.
Measures You Can Take to Protect Your Child from Tooth Decay
- To protect baby teeth, they should be brushed at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, once after breakfast and once before bedtime. If the child's fine motor skills are not yet developed, the child's teeth should be brushed by the family.
- Consumption of sugary foods should be limited, and teeth should be brushed at least 20 minutes after consuming sugary foods.
- Foods like almonds, milk, cheese, walnuts, raw hazelnuts, and almonds should be consumed more often, while acidic drinks and fruit juices should be avoided.
- Children should be taken for routine dental checkups every six months after they reach one year of age.
- If necessary, tooth structure should be strengthened topically with fluoride varnish gels under the supervision of a dentist.
