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Oral Health Problems in Children
There are a number of problems that affect the oral health of children,
including tooth decay, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, lip sucking, and early
tooth loss. Even though baby teeth are eventually replaced with permanent
teeth, keeping baby teeth healthy is important to a child's overall health and
well-being.
Baby bottle tooth decay
Baby bottle tooth decay (also called early childhood caries, nursing caries,
and nursing bottle syndrome) occurs when a baby's teeth are in frequent contact
with sugars from liquid carbohydrates, such as fruit juices, milk, formula,
fruit juice diluted with water, sugar water or any other sweet drink. Human
breast milk can cause tooth decay as well. As these liquids break down in the
mouth into simple sugars and are allowed to sit in the mouth, bacteria start
feeding on the sugars, causing tooth
decay.
If left untreated, decayed teeth can cause pain and make it difficult to
chew and eat. Also, baby teeth serve as "space savers" for adult teeth.
If baby teeth are damaged or destroyed, they can't help guide permanent teeth
into their proper position, possibly resulting in crowded or crooked permanent
teeth. Badly decayed baby teeth could lead to an abscessed tooth, with the
possibility of infection spreading elsewhere.
How do I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?
Some tips to prevent baby bottle tooth decay include:
- During the day, to calm or comfort your baby, don't give a bottle filled
with sugary liquids or milk; instead, give plain water or substitute a
pacifier.
- At anytime, don't dip your baby's pacifier in sugar, honey, or any sugary
liquid.
- At bedtime, don't put your baby to bed with a bottle filled with sugary
liquids (watered-down fruit juice or milk still increases the risk of decay).
Give plain water.
- Don't allow your baby to nurse continuously throughout the night while
sleeping, since human breast milk can cause decay. Use a pacifier or give a
bottle filled with plain water instead.
- Don't add sugar to your child's food
- Use a wet cloth or gauze to wipe your child's teeth and gums after each
feeding. This helps remove any bacteria-forming plaque and excess sugar that
have built up on the teeth and gums.
- Ask your dentist about your baby's fluoride needs. If your drinking water
is not fluoridated, fluoride supplements or fluoride treatments may be
needed.
- Teach your baby to drink from a cup by his or her first birthday. Moving to
a "sippy cup" reduces the teeth's exposure to sugars; however, constant
sipping from the cup can still result in decay unless it is filled with
water.
Next: Thumb sucking »
- Fillings - The dentist will treat your teeth and remove tooth decay and fill.
- Abscessed Tooth - Learn about abscessed tooth symptoms (nausea, jaw swelling, pain), treatment (antibiotics), prevention and how dentists diagnose infected teeth.
- Mouth Guards - Get information on types of mouth guards to protect teeth from bruxism (teeth grinding) while sleeping and during sports such as football, boxing, wrestling, hockey and basketball.
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