The appearance of a baby’s first tooth can be a significant milestone for parents. However, good oral health habits must start even before the first tooth appears, say paediatric dentists.
Tooth decay can also affect baby teeth. Pedodontists say many parents make the common mistake of ignoring tooth decay in its early stages, especially in babies.
“As soon as the child is born and the mother starts breastfeeding the baby, we recommend cleaning the baby’s gum pads with a soft cloth that has no hanging threads. After every feed, they can put 2-3 drops of water to flush out the oral cavity,” says Dr Sheen Ann John, a pedodontics and preventive dentistry specialist at Dental Studio, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
“Unfortunately, in a lot of cases, by the time the parents come to us, the permanent tooth has already decayed,” she says. “Parents often tend to ignore the pain initially and think it is a natural part of the baby tooth falling out. When these baby teeth get damaged, the bacteria count is very high in the oral cavity. It tends to destroy the permanent teeth that have newly erupted in the oral cavity as well,” Dr Sheen adds.
What causes early tooth decay?
“Tooth decay, put simply, is the breakdown or destruction of tooth enamel, the hard outer surface of the tooth”, says Dr M Prasad, consultant dental surgeon and professor in the department of prosthodontics, KIMS Hospitals, Hyderabad, India.
“The sugar left behind on the teeth interacts with the bacteria and acids and softens the enamel, leading to tooth decay and the formation of cavities,” he adds.
From improper brushing and offering a diet packed with sugary foods that stick to your child’s teeth to bottle feeding at night, there are several causes for early tooth decay, says Dr Prasad.
A study titled ‘Breastfeeding and Childhood Dental Caries’ found that breastfeeding for more than 12 months and nocturnal bottle feeding in infancy are both associated with an increased risk of dental decay. The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that “all babies be weaned from the bottle between 12 and 14 months of age”.
Dr Prasad says children who are at a higher risk of developing early tooth decay include those:
- Who have high levels of bacteria in their mouth (this bacteria reacts with leftover food and acids leading to the destruction of tooth enamel)
- Whose diets are filled with sugars and starches
- Who lives in an area where the drinking water lacks ample quantity of fluoride in it
- Who follow poor oral hygiene practices
Excess fluoride can also spell trouble since it can lead to a condition known as Dental Fluorosis, common among children aged eight years and younger, in which white spots form on the teeth, says the CDC.
What are some signs of early tooth decay?
Dr Prasad says some of the common symptoms include:
- White spots developing in the affected areas of the tooth.
- As the cavities become deeper, this colour will turn brown or black.
- Pain around the teeth.
- The child refusing to eat certain foods
- The child complained of sensitivity to certain foods
- When parents come to us, they say the child is wincing or is in pain — it is usually in the molar. However, only the front teeth are visible to the parents.
“A clear sign is weight loss,” says Dr Sheen, adding, “Since they are unable to chew and eat properly, they end up losing weight. Most children do not complain about these symptoms to their parents, right away.”
Full-mouth reconstruction at 6 yrs!
Dr Sheen recalls a recent case she handled of a six-year-old girl who had to undergo complete mouth rehabilitation (a full-mouth reconstruction) due to severe tooth decay. “The tooth decay, in this case, was caused by consumption of too many chocolates and sticky foods followed by improper brushing.”
“She was not someone who would complain much — she would mention that she was experiencing a toothache sometimes. This is common among children — they often do not tell parents about these symptoms as soon as they experience them because most of them fear the trip to the dentist,” says Dr Sheen.
After the procedure, the girl is now eating better and her quality of life has also improved, says Dr Sheen.
Takeaways
- Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth enamel, the hard outer surface of the tooth
- Good oral health starts right from when the mother starts breastfeeding the baby- it is recommended that you clean the baby’s gum pads with a soft cloth and water.
- Transform brushing into a family ritual instead of a rule the child has to follow-brushing has to last at least two minutes.
