Tooth decay can affect many children early, leading to tooth pain that increases in intensity over time, especially with chewing food. Tooth decay may develop through its stages to a stage where only tooth extraction is the solution. Prevention starts with washing teeth using toothpaste containing fluoride daily. What are the causes of tooth decay in children? How can it be treated and prevented to preserve your child's teeth?
What is tooth decay?
Breakdown or destruction of tooth enamel, the solid external surface of the teeth, as tooth decay may lead to cavities that may grow over time if left untreated.
Cavities may reach deep into the tooth, where the nerve endings are, leading to pain and increased tooth sensitivity.
Causes of tooth decay in children
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria and eating foods rich in carbohydrates and sugars, such as candy, cakes, fruit juices, and milk.
Bacteria that usually live in the mouth change these foods and make acids, and the combination of bacteria, food, saliva, and acid, makes a substance called plaque, that adheres to teeth.
Over time, acids made by bacteria erode tooth enamel, causing tooth decay in children.
Causes of tooth decay in children despite brushing
All children have bacteria in their mouth naturally, and despite teeth cleaning, some factors may increase children's risk of tooth decay, such as:
- Increase the bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay.
- Eat diets full of sugars and starch.
- Water with little or no fluorine.
- Poor saliva flow than normal.
Causes of early tooth decay in children
Possible causes of early decay in children include:
1. Microorganisms
Some types of bacteria are found in cases of early tooth decay in children, and different kinds of bacteria are responsible for the progression of tooth decay rather than its onset. These bacteria metabolize existing sugars and produce lactic acid.
This acid demineralizes tooth enamel, and if this lasts for a long time, it can eventually erode dentine, and then tooth decay occurs.
2. Direct transmission of infection
Streptococcus mutans may be transmitted from mother to child through infected saliva or by sharing food and utensils.
Children born by cesarean section are also more susceptible to tooth decay, compared to those born vaginally.
Studies indicate that mothers are the primary source of these bacteria for their children, so levels of these bacteria in children are linked to their mothers' levels.
3. Inappropriate feeding practices
A cohort retrospective study was conducted to resolve early tooth decay in children and associated risk factors among mothers with children aged 25-30 months, in a society where prolonged breastfeeding was common practice.
The study concluded that children who had consumed sugary food or pre-chewed rice before the child took it, and had slept with the breast nipple in their mouth, showed that they had early tooth decay.
However, children who breastfed and were older than 12 months without these habits did not develop early tooth decay.
Other improper habits may increase children's risk of early tooth decay, such as:
- Breastfeeding at night after the child reaches 12 months.
- Put the baby in the bed with a bottle of formula in his mouth.
- Sip the bottle during the day.
4. Sugary Foods
Studies have found that early tooth decay in children is more common in children who eat juice between meals, and sweetened solid foods, especially before bedtime.
On the other hand, saliva flows less during sleep, and if a child sleeps with a bottle filled with sweet liquid, the chances of early tooth decay may increase.
5. Diseases
The onset of tooth decay in children may be associated with certain diseases, such as juvenile diabetes, and they may be more prone to tooth decay.
Symptoms of tooth decay in children
Tooth decay in children is characterized by pain while chewing food, or eating hot or cold, and tooth decay appears in the form of dark areas.
The child may not be able to accurately tell you where the pain is, so you should look for the following signs of tooth decay in children, which may occur across all stages:
- Tooth pain (especially at mealtimes or with cold or hot intake).
- Visible hole in the tooth.
- White, brown, or black spots on the tooth.
- Swollen, painful, or bleeding gums.
- Complaining about a bad taste in the mouth
- Bad breath.
- Fever.
- Irritability.
Stages of tooth decay in children
Tooth cavities do not arise overnight. This takes steps for the child to pass, including:
1. Phase 1: White Spots
When the plaque begins to accumulate on the tooth, the formation of small white spots begins. This process is known as "demineralization" which removes minerals necessary for dental health. This very early stage can be overcome with appropriate treatment and restoring the natural state of the tooth.
2. Phase 2: Enamel Decay
At this stage of tooth decay, the teeth cannot recover the minerals they need, forming a lesion inside the tooth, which breaks down the enamel beneath its surface, and if left untreated, the surface of the tooth itself may break.
3. Phase 3: Dentin Decay
The child begins to feel some pain at that point, dentin is the dental layer that lies between enamel and pulp, and once the enamel erodes, the dentin may be also damaged.
4. Phase 4: Pulp degradation
If the decay reaches the tooth pulp, it will cease to produce dentin, and even form a pus around the pulp, eliminating blood vessels and nerves within the tooth, in which case the child feels severe pain in his teeth.
5. Phase 5: Formation of an abscess
In the most painful stage of tooth decay, once decay reaches the tip of the tooth root, an abscess is formed, which can lead to an enlarged gum and tongue and may infect the surrounding bones.
6. Stage 6: Tooth Loss
Tooth extraction may be the only option if tooth decay is not treated in its early stages, foreshadowing tooth loss, so saving and maintaining your child's teeth from decay prevents these long-term consequences.
Best treatment for child tooth decay
Tooth decay in children can be treated by:
1. Aloe Dent Fluoride Anti-caries For Children With Strawberry Taste
Fluoride-rich toothpaste helps prevent 1⁄3 of tooth decay, so Aloe Dent Fluoride helps protect children's teeth and fight bacteria, maintains gum health, and with delicious strawberry taste helps the child to keep his teeth clean.
2. Visit the dentist regularly
Experts suggest that your child should visit the dentist after his or her first tooth appears, before he or she reaches the age of one, to detect early signs of tooth decay along with more serious dental problems.
3. Dental sealants
Dental sealants are thin coatings applied to the tooth to help prevent decay. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80% of tooth cavities can be prevented for up to two years by placing these substances on the back teeth, in which 90% of tooth decay occurs.
4. Dental Fillings
If your child already suffers from tooth decay, the doctor may choose dental fillings to prevent further decay and pain, and this process does not usually take long.
How do you protect your child from tooth decay?
Tooth decay in children can be prevented by:
1. General Prevention Tips
- Wash the child's teeth 3 times a day.
- Visit the dentist regularly.
- Not sleeping with a bottle in the baby's mouth.
- Avoid eating sugary or starchy foods.
- Drinking throughout the day to remove stuck food particles and maintain mouth hydration.
- Do not share foods, drinks, and eating utensils, as they may transfer bacteria to the child's mouth.
2. Lacalut Anti-caries for children with Vitamin A and E
Lacalut is a product that helps protect children from tooth decay, removes plaque, contains vitamin A and vitamin E, and is suitable for children from the first milk tooth.
