Caries in children

Underestimated danger: Caries infestation in children’s teeth

In children, tooth decay is possible from the first tooth and is not harmless. The sweet milk teeth form the basis for the later permanent teeth. If tooth decay has occurred in the deciduous teeth, treatment is therefore also recommended for small children.

How caries can destroy baby teeth in children

Caries in children arises from acids formed by mutans streptococci, that attack the softer enamel of milk teeth. Caries destroys baby teeth particularly quickly. In the beginning, a caries spot is possible through regular oral hygiene with fluoride-containing toothpastes suitable for children and avoiding further harmful influences. Saliva can also have a caries-inhibiting and remineralizing effect. However, if countermeasures are not taken with the appropriate measures, the tooth decay spreads further in the deciduous teeth and can lead to tooth loss and gum disease.

The so-called is particularly dangerous for babies and toddlers "Teat bottle tooth decay". This occurs in children up to three years if the children suck too often on feeding bottles filled with sugary drinks. The teeth are exposed to sugar for a long time, cannot recover from saliva or brushing their teeth, and the children develop tooth decay. A caries spot on the upper and lower incisors is particularly common.

Poor tooth enamel can also exist from birth. Especially then parents should pay special attention to dental hygiene.

Other causes of tooth decay in children:

bad cleaning
too many sugary drinks and foods
lack of controls by the dentist
constant sucking on feeding bottles

Important: tooth decay is contagious. So parents can pass on bacteria that can cause tooth decay to their children, for example, by using the same cutlery.

Cleaning instead of drilling – this is how you keep tooth decay & Baktus distant.

As mentioned, there are children who have poor enamel quality and a predisposition to tooth decay caused by their genes. Nevertheless, caries in children can be successfully avoided by taking suitable measures, because rarely there are children whose tooth enamel is in such a bad condition due to inheritance that brushing no longer helps.

This includes one in the first place consistent cleaning routine, that should be practiced with the parents. Half an hour after meals, children should brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. The right brushing technique is also important for the prevention of milk tooth caries. If the child is not yet sufficiently proficient in this, parents have to do the cleaning. Regular dental visits round off caries prevention in children. If these visits are carried out consistently, it is unlikely that major caries will develop. The article Brushing Teeth Children provides helpful tips on how to brush your teeth properly.

Important points for caries prophylaxis in children:

regular and correct brushing of milk teeth
a balanced menu with foods rich in vitamins and nutrients
correctly dosed fluoride supply for milk teeth
Preventive examinations by the trusted dentist

Fissure sealing on milk teeth

If caries has already been identified on some teeth or if there is a genetic predisposition to caries, fissure sealing may already be advisable for the deciduous teeth. The notches on the occlusal surface of the molars are flattened a little with dental cement. Food residues are less likely to get stuck, cleaning is easier and caries are less likely.

Beware of dark spots on the teeth!

Caries is painful in most cases. In children who show pain when eating, it is essential to examine the mouth and teeth for caries. However, it would be better to have constant control to detect discoloration long before it becomes painful. Because the acids of the caries-forming bacteria initially show up as brownish spots or stains on the teeth. However, parents cannot always detect the beginning of tooth decay, which is why a regular dental check-up at the dentist should be carried out.

Caries? Off to the dentist!

If caries has developed in children, only a visit to the dentist helps. This then decides on the further measures. If you react in time, often only the outer enamel is affected, which can then be treated with a highly concentrated fluoride varnish. However, if holes have already formed, the area must be treated with the drill. The caries is peeled out of the tooth and the hole is finally closed with a filling. For larger caries cases, in which the tooth nerve has already been affected and inflamed, milk tooth nerve treatment may be advisable. With this treatment, parts or all nerves are removed from the affected tooth. Crowns are also already used on milk teeth. If molars are lost in children due to caries, "dentists" are often used by the dentist so that the permanent dentition can develop normally in the children.

Dental caries treatment:

Fluoride varnish with minimal caries
Drill out larger holes
Fill the holes with cement or plastic
Root canal treatment for large defects caused by caries
Insertion of crowns or placeholders

Fear of the dentist

Caries often occurs in children who generally have a problem with dental hygiene. Fear of the dentist also often plays a major role. Special children’s dentists are trained to respond sensitively to anxiety patients. Treatment in short sleep or under anesthesia is often possible.

How do I explain tooth decay to my child?

The description of caries is often not understandable for children. That is why parents can find a lot of help, such as books or films about caries education in children. The tooth roller Karius and Baktus from the writer Thorbjörn Egner from Norway are particularly well known. The children are clearly explained what tooth decay is, what happens to their teeth and why brushing is so important.

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