Is My Child at Risk for Early Childhood Tooth Decay?
As adults we visits the dentist about twice a year. Most healthy 2-year-olds have never been to the dentist. By kindergarten, 25 percent of children have never seen a dentist, yet dental decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease in Australia. Many children undergo extensive and expensive dental treatment (usually under general anaesthetic) to address problems that could easily have been prevented.
Why? The culprit is a combination of misinformation about when children should first visit the dentist, when a parent should start looking after a child’s teeth and the frequent and long-term exposure of of children’s teeth to sugary foods and drinks.
Frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to sugary liquids is commonly called baby bottle tooth decay. Most parents are aware of baby bottle tooth decay but may not know that the long-term and regular consumption of sugary liquids in a bottle or cup puts children’s growing teeth at increased risk for decay.
A child should first visit the dentist about six months after the arrival of the first tooth. During this first exam, the dentist can teach parents the best way to guard against early childhood tooth decay. Techniques such as wiping down the teeth with a damp cloth after every feeding are useful first steps in introducing oral hygiene. Dentists will often remind parents to limit sugary beverages.
Unsweetened fruit juices, teas and water are always best for children to help promote oral and overall health
Fruit juice causes tooth decay if children are allowed to hold a bottle, cup or box of juice in their mouth through the day.
“If left untreated, baby bottle tooth decay can result in pain and infection,” says Dr. Sherwood. “Baby teeth are important because they hold the place for permanent teeth and help guide them into correct position. Severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted, which could effect the development of permanent teeth, speech and chewing.”
Caring for children’s teeth beginning in infancy promotes good oral health care habits for a lifetime and increases the chances of a child maintaining healthy permanent teeth.
