Early Decay – Cause & Prevention
What is the cause of dental caries?
Dental caries is an infectious disease process that causes tooth decay or “cavities.” If untreated, caries can lead to severe pain, local infection, tooth loss, and even serious systemic infections. In our society with kissing our toddlers, tasting or sharing foods, and by allowing them explore our mouths with their fingers, these “cavity-germs (streptococcus mutans) can pass through the saliva to our children . Through this mechanism, babies typically are inoculated or “catch” dental caries from their parents. For this reason, it is important that parents attend to their own dental needs, striving to have excellent dental hygiene and, therefore, helping to prevent problems with their children’s teeth.
Here is what is happening in your child’s mouth: Teeth, which are primarily made of minerals, are in a constant state of back-and-forth de-mineralization and re-mineralization. When your child eats and drinks, certain types of bacteria create acid from the foods and fluids left on the teeth. The acid de-mineralizes or weakens the tooth enamel. In healthy mouths, the time between meals allows, minerals from the saliva to become incorporated into the teeth, re-mineralizing the enamel and reversing the damage from the acid. In essence, the tooth heals itself. However, in unhealthy mouths, where there is an abundance of bacteria and a high incidence of juice, energy drink or snack ( carbohydrate) consumption, the enamel never re-mineralizes and the tooth, instead of healing, weaken and develops decay. Therefore, the more parents can clean their children’s teeth, use appropriate amounts of fluoride and give the teeth time between food and drink consumption to recover, the better chance their teeth will have to win the battle for re-mineralization, be healthy, strong and caries free.
Can Cavities be prevented?
Once “strep mutans” is in the saliva, it is there forever. We can, however, control the germs and protect the teeth using three weapons.
- First, teeth must be cleaned by proper brushing and flossing to remove the germ build-up of “strep mutans” known as plaque. Proper brushing for children is best accomplished by a adult using certain methods and brush type. Perfectly clean teeth do not decay.
- Secondly, we bolster the immune system and strengthen the enamel, even acid weakened enamel, by using a special stannous fluoride brush-on gel.
- Lastly, we ask parents to limit their child’s intake of sugars, particularly liquid sugars like fruit juices, pop, and sports drinks. “Sticky” candies should be completely eliminated. Follow this rule “ if you do not want it in your hair, then do not put it in your mouth”.
Our office can discuss a special program for your child that is designed to reduce your child’s risk of getting cavities.
How does fluoride help teeth?
Fluoride is an element which works in the re-mineralization process, helping your teeth to create stronger tooth enamel. It is important to get the proper dose of fluoride, as too little or too much can be bad for the teeth.
In general, there is not as much need to supplement a child for fluoride today as there was a decade ago, because we now have many sources of fluoride. Besides toothpaste, other sources are fluoridated drinking water, like we have here in Uniontown and most surrounding areas, and processed foods produced with fluoridated water, such as juices and canned foods. Talk our staff about your child’s fluoride sources to make sure they are getting the correct amount. 28 28
About brushing and flossing
Parents should brush the teeth of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and help school age children with brushing their teeth until the age of 7 or 8. As a rule, until a child can tie his own shoe, he will need assistance in brushing his teeth! The best times to brush are after breakfast and before bedtime. The best toothbrushes for children have soft round ended bristles that clean while being gentle on the gums. Along with brushing, parents should floss children’s teeth where any two teeth touch. Flossing removes the plaque between teeth, where toothbrushes can not reach.
When choosing a toothpaste brand for your child, the most important thing to look for is the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance to ensure the product’s safety and effectiveness. We always recommend using a small amount of toothpaste. For children between age 2 to 3, use only a “rice-sized” smear of toothpaste. Ages 4 to 5 should apply only a “pea-sized” drop of toothpaste to their brush. It is commonly understood that children under the age of 5, will try to swallow instead of spit out the paste. By applying the paste in this manner, the risk of ingesting excess amounts of fluoride will be reduced. Regardless of the brand your child uses, always have them spit out the excess toothpaste rather than swallowing it.
Why is it important to floss?
Brushing our teeth removes food particles, plaque, and bacteria from all tooth surfaces, except in between the teeth. Unfortunately, our toothbrush can’t reach these areas that are highly susceptible to decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone. Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (acids) that cause cavities and irritate and inflame the gums. Also, when plaque is not removed above and below the gum line, it hardens and turns into calculus (tartar). This will further irritate and inflame the gums and also slowly destroy the bone. This is the beginning of periodontal disease.
How to floss properly:
- Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
- Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
- Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gum-line. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.