The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) says Early Childhood Caries represent the most prevalent infectious disease in American children, occurring five times more frequently than the next most common chronic disease, asthma. More than 40 percent of children have tooth decay by age five and nearly 70 percent by late adolescence.

We know now that dental decay starts as an infectious transmittable disease. Tooth decay (cavities) is caused by certain types of acid-producing bacteria (specifically Lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans), which produce acid in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose (sugars). The resulting high levels of acidity from lactic acid in the mouth demineralize the teeth causing the break down of the tooth enamel.

The acid-producing bacteria of an infant’s primary caregiver can be transmitted to the infant by wetting a pacifier with saliva, sharing eating utensils while feeding, and kissing the baby on the lips. Once the infant’s teeth come in, the acid created by the bacteria can begin to decay the teeth.

Sugar like that found in soft drinks and candy is not the only fermentable carbohydrate responsible for the negative effects

Advertisement
of diet on dental health. Fermentable carbohydrates include natural sugars like those found in fruit, and cooked starches like those in breads and pasta. All of these can be used by oral bacteria to produce acid but at different rates.

Fortunately, decay can still be prevented! The best way to ensure that your child does not get cavities is to instill proper oral habits early. Parents should start cleaning their children’s teeth twice a day as soon as they appear in the mouth. Use a small soft-bristled toothbrush or clean damp cotton gauze. You don’t need to use any toothpaste yet. When the child is 2 years old start adding a very small pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Flossing should be started after two teeth have erupted next to each other to prevent cavities between these teeth.

A child’s first oral health visit should come around his or her first birthday. Your oral health professional will check for cavities in the baby teeth. A dental visit at an early age is a “well baby checkup” for the teeth. Besides checking for tooth decay and other problems, the dental professional can demonstrate how to clean the child’s teeth properly and how to evaluate any adverse habits such as thumbsucking.

Submitted by Megan McCormack R.D.H., RRHC