FAQs

Baby bottle disease is transmitted to babies from their parents through saliva. If you share a spoon with your baby or attempt to clean the pacifier with your mouth, you are increasing your baby's chances of developing baby bottle disease. The acid-producing bacteria in the parents' oral cavity are transmitted to the babies and cause tooth decay.

Exposure to sweetened liquids is also a prominent cause of baby bottle tooth decay.

These liquids include:

• Breast milk

• Baby formula

• Juice

• Sweetened water

• Or any other fluid

As sweetened fluids are usually fed to the kids during nap time or bedtime, they remain in the mouth for a long time and increase tooth decay risk. The bacteria in the oral cavity feed on the sugar around teeth and emit harmful acids. These acids can wear away tooth enamel, resulting in painful cavities and pediatric tooth decay.

Infants who do not get an appropriate amount of fluoride are also at high risk of tooth decay. Fluoride is essential for oral health as it protects tooth enamel by reducing mineral loss and promoting mineral reuptake. You should visit your pediatrician to check if your child needs fluoride supplements or is at high-risk of baby bottle tooth decay.

Fluoride has two main functions:

• Staunching mineral loss from tooth enamel

• Promoting the remineralization of tooth enamel

Oral bacteria feed on carbohydrates and produce harmful acids that attack tooth enamel. This affects children more, especially the ones who take medications or produce less saliva. These repeated acid attacks can result in cavities, tooth decay, and childhood periodontal disease. Fluoride is vital as it protects tooth enamel from acid attacks and reduces childhood tooth decay risk.

Fluoride should be used as a part of good oral hygiene. In addition to including fluoride in your oral regime, you should all follow some essential steps to prevent tooth decay.

These are:

• Reducing the consumption of sugary foods

• Brushing and flossing regularly

• Visiting your dentist biannually

A balanced diet is the most crucial factor to take care of good oral health. A balanced diet has all the necessary nutrients necessary for proper gum tissue development, strong bones, and protection against certain illnesses. The food pyramid suggests that children need vegetables, fruits, meat, grains, beans, and dairy products to grow properly. It would be best to include all these different food groups in your child’s meal plan to ensure good health and healthy teeth.

According to the Canadian Dental Association, parents should make biannual dental appointments for children. These appointments should begin approximately six months after the first tooth emerges.

These two yearly dental visits are essential for your child as they allow the dentist to monitor new developments in the child’s mouth. The dentist can evaluate changes in teeth and gums and continue advising parents on the right oral care strategies.

If your child is susceptible to tooth decay or shows early signs of orthodontic problems, the dentist may schedule additional visits.

Biannual visits to the dentist play a crucial part in preventing cavities.

You can follow the guidelines given below for cavity prevention:

• Monitor the Diet: Avoid sugary or starchy snacks in your meals, as these can expedite cavity formation. Try to replace sugary snacks with natural foods whenever possible. Also, replace soda with water.

• Avoid Frequent Snacking: The habit of frequent snacking will unnecessarily expose your teeth to sugars. Include sugar and starch in the meals. It is this time when the child is producing more saliva and drinking water. Feed your child enough water to cleanse their teeth.

• Get Rid of the Sippy Cup: When sippy cups are used beyond the intended age, they might cause "baby bottle tooth decay."

• Avoid Sticky Foods: It is best to avoid sticky foods (like toffee) as they form plaque quickly and are difficult to pry off the teeth.

• Rinse the Pacifier: There is a high chance that the mother may transfer oral bacteria to the child through the pacifier. Avoid sucking on the pacifier to clean it. Rinse it under running water to avoid contaminating the baby's mouth.

• Avoid Drinks at Bedtime: Feeding your child milk, formula, juice, or sweetened water during sleep is a bad idea. The sugar stays on the teeth all night and produces acids that attack the enamel, maximizing cavities' risk. Ensure that the child brushes the teeth before bedtime.

• Brush and Floss: Develop a habit of brushing and flossing your child's teeth twice each day until they reach seven years. After the age of seven years, children can brush their teeth themselves effectively.

• Check on Fluoride: Fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel and help stave off cavities if used in the right quantity. Ask the pediatrician for a fluoride assessment for your child.

• Visit the Dentist: Schedule your child's first dental visit around his or her first birthday. Schedule regular appointments to keep your child's teeth and gum healthy.

There are so many brands that offer toothbrushes for children. It can be overwhelming to see a shelf full of different kinds of toothbrushes for your children. We suggest you select an appropriately sized toothbrush. Also, choose a nourishing, cleansing brand of children’s toothpaste to maintain excellent oral health.

It is important to maintain the health of primary teeth as they are essential for speech production, chewing, and jaw development. They also facilitate proper alignment and spacing of permanent adult teeth. Therefore, brushing primary teeth is as important as brushing permanent teeth. Moreover, brushing helps in preventing bad breath and tooth decay. It also removes plaque which is often associated with childhood periodontal disease.