• Home
  • Contact
  • Blog
Emergency Line 212-267-0029
HealthFlex
×
  • Meet the Doctor
  • Services
    • Sedation Dentistry
    • Tooth cleaning and polishing
    • Tooth Colored Fillings and Sealants
    • Prevention
    • Digital X-rays
    • Teeth maintenance
    • Tooth Extractions
    • Laser Dentistry
  • Children’s Dental Topics
    • How to Avoid Fear of the Dentist
    • Tips For Infant Oral Health
    • Care of Your Child’s Teeth
    • Cavity Prevention
    • Digital X-rays
    • Diet & Dental Health
    • Eruption and Exfoliation Schedule
    • Mouth Guards/Protectors
    • Pacifiers
    • Perinatal & Infant Oral Health
    • Sippy Cups
    • Sports Drinks & Sodas
    • Thumb Sucking
    • Tooth Grinding
  • Pediatric Dental Emergencies
    • Toothache
    • Knocked-Out Teeth
    • Cut or Bite on Cheek, Lip or Tongue
    • Maxillary Frenum Tear
    • Severe Blow to the Head
    • Possible Broken or Fractured Jaw
  • Online Booking

Cavities in Baby Teeth

Cavities in Baby Teeth
December 14, 2014Articles

It’s hard to imagine that a young child could develop cavities in baby teeth, but it’s all too common. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Association, approximately 40% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 have cavities!

Infants are born without the harmful bacterial that causes dental decay. However, once your child’s mouth has become colonized with the bacteria (called mutans streptococcus), your child will be more prone to cavities in both baby and permanent teeth. The bacteria feed on sugar, producing acid that eats away at the teeth by destroying the calcium. It also causes plaque, which contains even more acid. When the spot on a calcium-depleted tooth enlarges, the surface of the tooth collapses—which is a cavity.

The Cause of Cavities in Baby Teeth

  • Bacteria spread by transferring saliva, such as when giving baby a bite of something off your spoon or by “cleaning” a dropped pacifier by popping it into your mouth.
  • Sleeping with a bottle of milk or other sugary liquid.
  • Drinking soda and/or fruit juice, both of which are highly acidic and loaded with sugar.
  • Poor dental hygiene:
  • It’s difficult to brush baby teeth, as children are often wriggly during tooth-brushing time.
  • Likewise, flossing can be challenging.
  • Lack of early dental care
  • Many parents do not understand the importance of taking a baby to the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears. By the time several teeth have come in, the child may already have cavities.
  • According to dental studies, only 10% of 1-year-olds and 24% of 2-year-olds have ever been to the dentist.

Can a Family History of “Soft Teeth” Result in More Cavities?

While some families believe that they have “soft teeth” as the cause of frequent cavities, this is scientifically incorrect. What’s more likely is that families with high levels of decay-causing bacteria pass the bacteria on to the kids. In fact, 80% of cavities happen in just 25% of children. This can explain why some kids eat lots of sugary sweets and drinks and never seem to get cavities, while other children, kept on a more sugar-restricted diet, develop them even with their parents’ best efforts at prevention.

Can Antibiotics Eliminate Cavity-Causing Bacteria?

Unfortunately, no. Because of this, your Manhattan pediatric dentist will ask you about your dental history at your child’s first appointment, to ascertain if your child is at a higher risk for dental caries.

But it’s important to treat cavities in baby teeth: These first teeth serve as space holders for permanent teeth, so losing one prematurely can cause alignment problems that will need to be corrected with braces later.

Preventing Cavities in Baby Teeth

  • Infants:
  • Even before your baby has teeth, wipe your infant’s gums with a clean, damp washcloth after each feeding.
  • When that first tooth appears, purchase a soft infant toothbrush and, after eating or drinking, rub the wet brush around the tooth surfaces and gum line.
  • No toothpaste should be used.
  • Never put baby to bed overnight or even for naptime with a bottle containing milk or sugary beverage. If your child must sleep with a bottle, put water in it.
  • Schedule an appointment with me as soon as the first tooth appears.
  • Likewise, flossing can be challenging.
  • Toddlers
  • Begin brushing your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste at the age of 2 years: just a smear is enough.
  • Aim to brush for a full minute after breakfast and before bed.
  • When 2 or more teeth are lined up beside one another, floss between them.
  • Kindergarten & First Grade
  • Brush with your child to encourage both of you to stick to a schedule
  • Aim to brush for a full 2 minutes; using a timer helps!
  • Most children can brush their own teeth at around 7 years of age, but be sure to check your child’s teeth after he or she brushes, to look for leftover food particles.
  • All Children
  • All children should see me at least twice a year.
  • Limit the intake of sugar, which is the #1 cause of dental cavities. Exposing the teeth to sugars, even those in juices, crackers, pasta, cereals or raisins, prevents saliva from effectively cleaning the teeth.
  • Offer water immediately after exposure to sweets, carbohydrates or sugary liquids, including milk.
  • Brush and floss your child’s teeth at least twice daily.
  • Many parents find it easier to floss with individual one-use flossing sticks.
  • Training children with dental disclosing tablets helps them see for themselves where they need to brush more effectively

Ask me about protective fluoride varnish, which is applied twice a year. Studies show that 1-year-olds who received this treatment twice annually were four times less likely to have cavities in their baby teeth. We will also discuss sealants, which are incredibly effective at preventing children’s tooth decay.

Never Underestimate the Importance of Baby Teeth

The health of your child’s baby teeth cannot be left to chance. Losing a baby tooth to decay can affect the alignment of your child’s permanent teeth, increasing the chance for orthodontic treatment. Missing teeth can affect your child’s speech and contributes to additional decay.

Add Comment Cancel


Recent Posts

  • How much Sugar is hiding in your food?
  • What’s in Your Toothpaste?
  • Most Sports-Related Dental Injuries Are Preventable and Treatable
  • Secondhand Smoke and Gum Disease in Children
  • Holiday Dental Emergencies

Recent Comments

    Categories

    • Articles
    • Kids
    • Teens

    Request Appointment

      Your Name (required)

      Your Email (required)

      Reason for visit

      Your Message

      Latest Articles

      Archives

      • August 2021
      • July 2018
      • June 2018
      • May 2018
      • April 2018
      • March 2018
      • February 2018
      • January 2018
      • December 2017
      • November 2017
      • October 2017
      • September 2017
      • August 2017
      • July 2017
      • June 2017
      • May 2017
      • April 2017
      • March 2017
      • February 2017
      • December 2016
      • November 2016
      • October 2016
      • September 2016
      • August 2016
      • July 2016
      • June 2016
      • May 2016
      • April 2016
      • March 2016
      • February 2016
      • January 2016
      • December 2015
      • November 2015
      • October 2015
      • September 2015
      • August 2015
      • July 2015
      • June 2015
      • May 2015
      • April 2015
      • March 2015
      • February 2015
      • January 2015
      • December 2014
      • November 2014
      • October 2014
      • September 2014
      • August 2014
      • July 2014

      ismileKids

      Welcome to iSmile Kids Pediatric Dentistry. We have a passion to provide optimal oral health care for infants, children and adolescents!

      • 212-267-0029
      • mail@iSmileKids.com
      • Trinity Building 111 Broadway, 17th Floor New York, N.Y. 10006

      Quick Links

      • Meet the Doctor
      • Services
      • Contact
      • Request an Appointment

      Latest Articles

      • How much Sugar is hiding in your food? Aug 24

        All of my NYC pediatric dental patients’ parents know that...

      • What’s in Your Toothpaste? Aug 24

        Have you seen the credit card commercials with the line,...

      Copyright ©2021 all rights reserved
      Developed by OBT Creative