Tooth decay happens when food wastes containing carbohydrates—mainly sugars and starches— are left on the teeth for a long time. Bacteria in the mouth will then “eat” this food debris, producing acid in the breakdown process.

In turn, the high acidity can weaken and eventually destroy the tooth enamel (the outermost, hardest part of our teeth), which in turn can cause tooth decay or caries.

Tooth decay can develop in children between 6 months to 6 years of age—before the eruption of the permanent molar teeth. In fact, around 50% of all children above 5 years old experience some degree of tooth decay all around the world.

This often creates a dilemma: the baby teeth are—after all—temporary, and so many parents tend to believe that they are not as important as the permanent adult teeth later on. As a result, 20% of children all over the globe are suffering from severe, untreated tooth decay.

However, untreated early tooth decay and worse, cavities can be extremely serious. Not only they can be immediately painful for the child, but it can severely affect how the mouth, jawbone, gums, and teeth will develop, which can lead to long-term and even permanent damage.

Why It’s Important Treat Cavities on Baby Teeth

When decays in primary teeth are left untreated, they can develop into dental cavities/caries. Cavities can further cause various conditions and complications, such as:

Pain and sensitivity might hinder the child from eating healthy food, which can impact the child’s nutritional intake and overall development
Disrupting the development of the permanent teeth, in turn causing overbites, crooked teeth, and misalignment
Preventing permanent teeth from growing properly
Might develop into (severe) infections and abscess

Although primary—or baby—teeth are temporary, the damage of early teeth decay can be permanent, and so we can’t say they are not important. Children with untreated primary tooth decay and cavity might face serious challenges in the future

What Can Cause Early Tooth Decay?

Although tooth decay in toddlers and children can be caused by many different primary and secondary factors, here are some of the most common ones:

Frequent consumption of sugary foods, starch-rich snacks, and sticky foods (candies, chocolates)
Constant consumption of beverages high in sugar (infant formula/baby milk, juice, etc.), especially using baby bottles and at bedtime (not followed with brushing afterward)
Not maintaining proper oral hygiene practice for children—will be discussed below:.

In general, early tooth decay is caused by: how much sugar (including starch) goes into the mouth, and whether it’s cleaned properly and in a timely manner.

It’s quite common for children to snack between meals—including sipping infant formula or sweet juice—. This can cause sugar wastes to coat the teeth over time.

Also, bacteria can pass from parents to the baby through the saliva. Avoid sharing toothbrushes and spoons, and avoid the habit of cleaning a soother and a soft baby spoon by licking them. Not only bacteria related to tooth decay and oral health will be passed, but also for other diseases.

How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children

Above, we have discussed that the primary causes of tooth decay in children and toddlers are sugary foods/beverages and bacteria.

However, carbohydrate intake is still very important in children’s diet both for physical and emotional development, so it is rather unwise to avoid sugary foods and beverages altogether.

Instead, here are some manageable practices you can try to prevent tooth decay in your baby:

Proper Oral Hygiene Practice

The most basic thing here is to brush your baby’s teeth twice daily. Check your child’s oral and teeth hygiene every day. You can gently lift the lip and check along the gum line before every brushing activity.

If you see any brown—and sometimes white— spots, it might be an early symptom for tooth decay, so it’s wise to visit your dentist or pediatrician immediately.

If your children can’t yet brush their own teeth, you can use a wet face cloth or various types of baby toothbrushes to help them. Remember to use fluoride toothpaste (there are plenty of alternatives that children like, and are 100% safe for children), and brush regularly in the morning and most importantly just before they sleep at night.

Also, avoid brushing their teeth as soon as they finished eating their chocolate or sipping their sugary drinks, as it might increase acidity in the mouth. Give it at least 15 to 30 minutes before you brush their teeth.

Second, teach your child as early as you can about flossing daily. You can start teaching them as soon as they are above two years old.

Last but not least, make a regular visit to the dentist at Skymark Smile Centre, at least twice a year or once every six months.

Let Them Drink a Lot of Water

Water can help rinse the mouth to clean food debris, as well as to reduce acidity. It’s better to introduce a lidless cup or glass as early as you can, preferably between 6 and 12 months of age.

Stopping to give your child formula or juice (using the bottle or sipping cup) altogether can be difficult, but the sooner you can, the better you can protect their teeth. You might want to check these tips on how to stop the milk bottle during bedtime.

End Words: When Should My Baby Visit The Dentist?

In general, you should visit the dentist as soon as the child’s first primary tooth appears (around 6 months of age), and at the very least when they are about a year old—when most of their primary teeth already erupted. During this visit, you can discuss with the dentist about daily dental care practices, a good diet to maintain, and so on. This will also help detect any abnormalities in your child’s teeth development as early as we can.

Remember that even after we’ve maintained a regular oral hygiene practice like brushing twice daily, you still need to visit the dentist regularly for a professional cleaning—at least twice a year.

Understanding Tooth Decay In Children