3 Tooth Decay in Children and Its Causes

Does your child's teeth change color, such as white or yellowish spots on teeth? Be careful, it could be a sign your child will have dental problems. Dental problems are often experienced by children. Her habit of liking sweet and unaccustomed foods regularly brushing your teeth can be the cause of tooth decay in many children.

Tooth decay in children and the cause

Here are some of the problems with your child's teeth and their causes.

1. Dental problems caused by a bottle of milk (baby-bottle mouth)

Constantly drinking milk with a bottle can cause tooth decay in your child. Especially when done while sleeping, this will make the teeth quickly damaged. Drinking milk from a bottle in a sleeping position may be comfortable for the baby. But, be careful if this is done for hours, it can harm baby's teeth. When the milk stays or pools around the teeth for a long time, this can make the teeth vulnerable to bacteria and acids. Milk contains sugar which is a food for bacteria. If milk sugar is attached to the teeth, this means feeding the bacteria to multiply in the teeth so that the tooth becomes hollow.

Parents can help children arrange a special time to drink milk every day because drinking milk from a bottle all day can damage milk teeth. If the child has grown up, it never hurts to teach him to drink milk with a glass. It would be better to train motor skills and coordinate the child.

The upper front teeth are the most susceptible to damage. Pay attention always to your child's front teeth, if there are signs of teeth will be damaged, such as there are white or yellow spots on your child's teeth, you should immediately take your child to the dentist. If left untreated, tooth decay in children can cause sick children and make it difficult for children to chew food.

2. Tooth decay or dental caries

Tooth decay occurs when the bacteria gnawing the tooth enamel, causing decay and finally cavities. Food left in the tooth and not cleaned can trigger this problem. Foods attached to these teeth eventually become food for bacteria to multiply. Acid then collects on the teeth, softening enamel on the teeth, and eventually the tooth becomes hollow. This hole will become larger if not treated immediately. If left unchecked, the hole in the child's milk tooth can move to the child's permanent teeth.

Milk teeth determine the space for permanent teeth to grow. If the milk tooth is damaged, they can not help the permanent teeth to grow in the right position. This can cause teeth to stack or tilt. Porous teeth can cause swollen teeth and may cause the possibility of infection spreading to other places. Porous teeth can be marked with white or yellowish spots on teeth. Immediately consult your dentist.

3. Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums)

Many children also have dental problems called gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. Gingivitis can be caused because children often eat snacks that can damage teeth, such as chocolate and sweets, and are aggravated by the bad habit of brushing your teeth. Other causes of gingivitis, ie too much plaque on the teeth, bacteria attached to teeth and breed followed by unaccustomed to brushing teeth regularly. If the child's gums are swollen, inflamed, or bleeding after brushing, you should consult a doctor immediately because your child is afraid of gingivitis.

How to prevent tooth decay?

Child dental care should be started before the first tooth appears. Although the tooth has not been seen, but it does not mean your child's teeth do not yet exist. Actually, teeth have already begun to form in the second trimester of pregnancy. At birth, your baby will have 20 primary teeth, which are still fully developed in the jaw.

Here is a way to take care of your child's teeth from them small.

• After your child's teeth appear, you should have brushed his teeth gently. You can do with baby toothbrush and water. If your child is older enough and understands not to swallow a toothpaste. Can be added by using a little toothpaste containing fluoride.
• As the child gets older and begins to understand how to brush his teeth, around the age of 2, you can teach your child to spit out the foam that appears when brushing. Avoid swallowing toothpaste.
• Around the age of 3 years, you can give him fluoride toothpaste of peanut seeds. Make sure the child can have enough fluoride to protect the child's teeth from the acid. Do not also contain too much fluoride in child toothpaste because it is not good for your child's dental health.
• Familiarize the child to always brush his teeth twice a day on a regular basis, ie after breakfast and before bed. And do not forget to always watch your child when brushing your teeth yourself, especially in those aged less than 6 years.
• Limit children to eat sweet foods because it can erode enamel and cause the child's teeth hollow. Familiarize children to always brush their teeth after eating sweet foods so that sugar in the food is not attached to the teeth and cavities can be avoided.

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