Early childhood tooth decay refers to when a preschool-age child (birth and 6 years) has one or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 42% of children 2 to 11 have had dental cavities in their primary (baby) teeth. Learn tips to stay ahead of recent statistics and keep your child well.
Early childhood tooth decay is a significant public health problem in certain populations and is present throughout the general population, reports the American Dental Association. The concern over the issue is the long-term effects to both oral and total body wellness for the children that fall victim to it.
Early childhood tooth decay, also commonly referred to as early childood caries, is an infectious disease. Baby bottle tooth decay is considered one of the more severe evidences of this syndrome.
The problem is that parents don’t understand just how susceptible a child’s teeth are to decay as soon as they erupt. Li’l Sunshine Smiles dentistry is here to help educate parents and communities on the reality of of early childhood caries. And, we are dedicated to helping prevent it.
The key to preventing early childhood tooth decay is prevention. So, we begin with scheduling your child’s first dental visit within six months of the eruption of the first tooth. During this visit, parents receive oral health education relevant to the child’s developmental needs.
Reducing the risk of early childhood caries requires parent action coupled with your Li’l Sunshine Smiles team. Read on to learn some tips about caring for baby teeth.
Baby teeth that decay and fall out too early can affect the permanent teeth. If a tooth is lost too soon, an adult tooth might shift into the wrong place and come into the mouth in the wrong place or incorrectly. This can create major orthodontic and dental issues for a child in the future.
Taking your infant in for infant dental exams while they are young is of paramount importance. Our office offers free infant dental exams. Because, good oral hygiene starts off at a very early age. Good infant oral health leads to better child and adult oral health.
In addition, home care is essential for baby teeth health.
Starting an oral care routine begins before your child’s first tooth appears. Therefore, run a clean, damp washcloth or an infant toothbrush over your child’s gums daily to clear away harmful bacteria.
When your child’s teeth begin to come in, follow these steps:
Since babies can get tooth decay in baby teeth, avoid putting a baby to sleep with a bottle. Sugars from juice, formula, or milk that remain on a baby’s teeth for hours can eat away at the tooth enamel (the layer of the tooth that protects against tooth decay). Consequently, this can lead to “bottle mouth” or “baby bottle tooth decay.” After, the front teeth can get discolored, pocked, and pitted. Cavities can form and, in severe cases, the decayed teeth might need to be pulled out.
Preventing cavities is better than treating cavities. We work together with parents to keep children’s mouths healthy from birth to adulthood!
A visit to Dr. Cat when children are infants/toddlers helps them be more comfortable in our dental home for future dental visits. Building positive connections between dental treatment and visits leads to success with oral health now and in years to come.
Children that have infant dental exams and frequent visits biannually after, have a reduced risk of developing dental phobias. We can work together to keep them healthy and happy! Call us at 813-576-0200 today to schedule an infant dental exam today!