Even Babies Get Tooth Decay

 

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month.

In its recently published clinical report, “Maintaining and Improving the Oral Health of Young Children,” the American Academy of Pediatrics acknowledges what we learned yesterday on The PediaBlog: Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood.

Oral health is an integral part of the overall health of children. Dental caries is a common and chronic disease process with significant short- and long-term consequences. The prevalence of dental caries remains greater than 40% among children 2 to 19 years of age.

 

The AAP explains why children’s oral health plays a huge part in pediatric health care:

Although dental visits have increased in all age, race, and geographic categories in the United States, disparities continue to exist, and a significant portion of children have difficulty accessing dental care. As health care professionals responsible for the overall health of children, pediatricians frequently confront morbidity associated with dental caries. Because the youngest children visit the pediatrician more often than they visit the dentist, it is important that pediatricians be knowledgeable about the disease process of dental caries, prevention of disease, interventions to maintain and restore health, and the social determinants of children’s oral health.

 

Everyone, even babies, can develop tooth decay. Pediatricians David Krol, M.D. and Kaitlin Whelan, M.D. describe who is at higher risk for dental caries and the signs parents should be looking for:

Children living in poverty, in an ethnic or racial minority groups, or with special health care needs are at more risk for dental decay. There are other reasons a child could be high risk:

• The child’s mother or main caregiver had tooth decay in the past 12 months or does not have a regular source of dental care.

• There are white spots on the child’s teeth. These spots are a sign that the tooth is losing calcium and minerals that keep it strong.

• There are tan, brown or black spots or you see cavities (pits) on the teeth. This is a sign that the tooth is decaying.

 

The last thing that should touch their teeth before bedtime is a toothbrush, Drs. Krol and Whelan remind us:

Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle at night or at naptime. It is also not a good idea to let your baby use a bottle filled with a sweet drink or dip your baby’s pacifier in anything sweet like sugar or honey. If you do put your baby to bed with a bottle, fill it only with water. You can give your baby about 4-8 ounces of water per day starting at around 6 months.

 

The AAP offers additional tips that help promote oral health in infants and prevent tooth decay:

1. See your child’s dentist by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth.

2. Even before your infant’s first teeth break through, it is important to get into a healthy routine. Wipe the gums with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad after each feeding.

3. As soon as your baby’s first tooth erupts, it’s time to start using fluoride toothpaste. Here’s how to do it: Use a tiny smear—the size of a grain of rice—until age 3. Clean the teeth at least twice a day. It’s best to clean them right after breakfast and before bedtime. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when your child is 3 years old. Teach your child to spit without rinsing.

4. Fluoride is a safe and useful cavity-fighting ingredient and natural mineral that has been added to drinking water since 1945. If your community water supply does not have fluoride or you live on a private well, ask your doctor if you should get a prescription for fluoride drops or chewable tablets for your child.

5. Assist or supervise kids during toothbrushing until they master the task, usually at around 10 years of age.

6. Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle at night or at naptime. It is also not a good idea to let your baby use a bottle filled with a sweet drink or dip your baby’s pacifier in anything sweet like sugar or honey.

7. When your baby is 6 months, your pediatrician will start to do oral health checkups and apply fluoride varnish. Pediatricians are trained to apply fluoride varnish because many young children do not see or have access to a dentist until they are older. All infants and children should have fluoride varnish every 6 months until age 5. Children might need it every 3 months if they have a higher risk of dental decay.

8. Fluoride varnish is a “preventive care service” for children. This means that all public and private health insurance plans should cover fluoride varnish. No part of the cost should be shared by patients or families.

9. Introduce a cup around your child’s first birthday. Teaching young ones to drink from a cup can help prevent tooth decay. Plan to begin moving your child from the breast or bottle to a lidded cup around 12 months.

10. Skip the sugary drinks. Fruit juice, soda and sweetened drinks aren’t good for your little one’s teeth. In fact, the AAP does not recommend juice for babies under 12 months. After that, limit juices to 4 ounces per day and mix them with water (half-water, half-juice is best).

 

 

(Google Images)

 

source https://www.thepediablog.com/2023/02/09/even-babies-get-tooth-decay/