What to do if your baby's front teeth have caries

Tooth decay, also known as toothache, is mainly caused by bacteria. After tooth decay occurs, timely treatment is required, otherwise pulpitis and apical periodontitis will occur. There are many reasons why babies develop tooth decay, which are directly related to food, oral environment, etc. When parents discover that their baby has caries on his front teeth, they will definitely worry, fearing that the entire tooth may be decayed. So, what should we do if our baby’s front teeth have cavities? Let’s look at the solution below.

Principles of tooth care

1.Dental care starts at the age of 1. A report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that early oral hygiene protection measures are beneficial to health and save medical expenses. Compared with other children, children who start oral health care at the age of 1 have 40% lower dental expenses after 5 years.

2. Cultivate children's habit of brushing teeth . It is very important to cultivate children's toothbrushing habits from an early age. Dr. Beverly Largent, a pediatric dentist, said that when a child's first tooth grows, his teeth should be brushed. Even before the child's teeth come out, parents can use gauze to clean the child's mouth. After teeth grow, you should choose a soft-bristled children's toothbrush and brush twice a day, morning and evening.

3. Avoid "baby bottle tooth decay" . Pediatricians and dentists have long warned parents not to let their children sleep with a bottle. This is because the sugar in the pacifier will stick to the child's teeth, causing oral bacteria and producing acid, which can lead to tooth decay. If not treated in time, dental diseases will have adverse effects on children's normal development and language learning. If your child has the habit of sleeping with a bottle in his mouth, it is best to rinse the nipple and only pour boiled water into the bottle.

4. Use straws less often when drinking beverages . Many children like to drink water and juice from a sippy cup. Experts say fruit juice and other sugary drinks are bad for children's dental health. Especially for infants and young children, long-term use of straws can cause tooth decay behind the front teeth, so try to use a wide-mouth cup when drinking juice.

5. Say goodbye to pacifiers at the age of two. Giving your 1-year-old a pacifier can help prevent sudden infant death syndrome, but long-term pacifier use can harm dental health. Sucking on the pacifier hard will affect the alignment of the child's upper and lower teeth, and even affect the shape of the mouth. Experts recommend that pacifiers should be discarded when children are 2 years old.

6. Be careful of medicines that are harmful to the oral cavity . Many children's medicines contain sugar, which sticks to teeth and increases the risk of tooth decay. Pediatric asthma and heart disease medications are particularly likely to cause tooth decay. Antibiotics and certain asthma medications can cause excessive yeast growth and fungal infections, so rinse your mouth after taking the medication.

7. Do not compromise on oral hygiene. Many parents think that teaching infants and toddlers to brush or floss their teeth is difficult and over the top. But experts believe that maintaining children's oral hygiene is no trivial matter and must be strictly enforced and not be neglected.