Parents, take note! Your child's cavities aren't always caused by eating sweets; it could be because of you!
Candy, drinks, ice cream, and other sweets are always very appealing to children. However, consuming too much sugary food without timely and effective tooth cleaning can easily lead to cavities in children. To maintain oral health, cleaning should begin as soon as a baby's first tooth erupts. Many parents remind their children to brush their teeth diligently every day. But some parents still ask: why do children still get cavities even though they brush their teeth carefully every day and don't eat sugar? Let's find out today about other reasons besides sugar that can cause cavities.
1. Are cavities "contagious"?
Tooth decay, also known as cavities, is a dental disease caused by prolonged bacterial infection of the tooth surface. If oral hygiene is neglected, bacteria, food residue, and other factors can damage tooth tissue, leading to cavities. The main pathogenic bacteria are Streptococcus mutans (Streptococcus mutans for short), which can be transmitted to infants through parental behaviors.
Tooth decay itself is not contagious, but there are two situations that can lead to the spread of "cariogenic bacteria."
One is infection within one's own oral cavity, which develops from a localized area into a large area of tooth decay, spreading from one tooth to adjacent teeth;
Secondly, it can be transmitted from person to person, mainly through feeding and kissing.
Feeding: When adults chew food or test its temperature with their mouths, it is easy for adults with cariogenic bacteria to transmit the bacteria to children.
Kissing: Saliva in the mouth is a carrier of bacteria, and cariogenic bacteria can be transferred with saliva. However, kissing is much less frequent than feeding.
Babies, especially infants, are more prone to cavities because their baby teeth have thinner and more sensitive enamel than adults'. Additionally, newly erupted permanent teeth are not fully hardened and are relatively fragile, making them susceptible to cavities when exposed to external stimuli such as cariogenic bacteria.
Therefore, if there are young children at home, parents need to pay special attention to the following points:
1. Adults who frequently come into contact with children need to maintain oral health and pay attention to oral hygiene at all times;
2. Avoid overly intimate actions with children, such as kissing;
3. Do not feed children directly with your mouth, or share the same tableware or water cup with other children.
4. If a child develops cavities, the adults should also go to the dentist.
Besides sugar, is milk powder also a major culprit in tooth decay?
Many mothers know that tooth decay is closely related to the food children eat, with sugar being the main culprit. However, besides sugar, there are three other reasons for tooth decay: the structure of the teeth themselves, bacteria in the mouth, and the time food remains on the teeth.
Both formula milk and breast milk are rich in lactose. However, being rich in lactose does not mean that drinking milk will necessarily cause tooth decay. The key factor that causes tooth decay is "time".
As long as the baby doesn't have the habit of falling asleep while drinking milk, and there is saliva secretion and swallowing when awake, the milk residue on the teeth can be removed in time. However, if the baby often falls asleep with a pacifier in their mouth, the front teeth are soaked in milk for a long time. The bacteria in the mouth break down sugars to produce acid, which damages the teeth and forms "baby bottle tooth decay".
3. How to prevent babies from getting cavities?
1. Regular inspections
Infants should have their first dental checkup within 6 months of the eruption of their first tooth, i.e., within 1 year of age. A dentist should examine the baby's new teeth and jaw development, and parents should learn about oral care.
2. Fluorine coating
A baby's tooth enamel is not yet fully developed, and the "protective film" on their teeth is relatively thin. Baby teeth are easily eroded by bacteria, leading to cavities. Fluoride varnish involves applying a layer of fluoride to the tooth surface, thereby enhancing the resistance to cavities in all teeth and making them stronger. Fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel, promote tooth remineralization, and, when used appropriately, can effectively prevent tooth decay.
3. Fissure sealing
The optimal time for fissure sealing of primary molars is generally 3-4 years old, after their eruption. The surface of primary molars is uneven, with depressions called fissures. Deep fissures easily trap food debris and bacteria, leading to cavities. Fissure sealing flattens the base of these fissures, acting like a protective layer for the teeth, making them easier to clean and reducing cavities. The procedure is painless for children. However, there is a possibility of the sealant filling falling off; if this occurs, consult a dentist promptly for repair.
4. Take precautions against infection
Avoid sharing tableware in the family as much as possible, and prepare separate tableware for children to prevent cross-infection.
5. Develop good oral hygiene habits
To cultivate good oral hygiene habits in children, parents should gently wipe their baby teeth and gums with a finger toothbrush or gauze dipped in warm water for children around one year old. Children around three years old should learn to brush their teeth and be encouraged to brush twice a day, morning and evening, and rinse their mouths after meals. It is recommended to minimize the total amount and frequency of sugary foods consumed daily, avoid eating sugary foods between meals, and limit carbonated beverages.
Author: Dr. Eric Chan
