How do children develop tooth decay?

As we all know, children's self-control is generally poor, and some children like to eat sweets. If parents do not stop them in time and let them eat, it is easy to cause oral problems in babies. Some parents do not know where to start prevention, and do not know that they need to take their children to the hospital for treatment after their children have cavities. So how do children's cavities form?

The main factor causing tooth decay is children's incomplete oral hygiene. Sweets are especially children's favorite food. Sweets contain a lot of sugar and starch, such as candy, chocolate, biscuits and cakes. These sticky sweets are easy to adhere to the tooth surface, providing sufficient nutrients for caries-causing bacteria in dental plaque, and also creating "good conditions" for tooth decay. The organic acids produced after metabolism are highly cariogenic, which is also one of the important reasons for the increase in tooth decay among children nowadays.

Children suffer from dental caries and tooth decay, and the culprit is some life details that are unique to children. Most children do not pay much attention to oral hygiene, especially since most children's foods are high in sugar. Experts say that most children with tooth decay have poor oral hygiene. Children like to eat sugary foods. If they consume too much high-sugar food, the residues will easily remain in the mouth. These residues react with saliva to produce acidic substances, which will directly destroy the tooth structure. Today's food is highly refined and most of it contains sugar. Children especially like to eat snacks, and most children do not have the habit of rinsing their mouths immediately. After a period of time, tooth decay will occur.

Children's bad life details cause tooth decay. In addition, it takes some time for children to show obvious symptoms of tooth decay, so it is not easy for parents to find out. After teeth are infected with tooth decay, deciduous teeth usually take 1 year to show signs, and transverse teeth take 1-2 years to be discovered. Tooth decay is not easy to detect during the latent period, and some children do not pay attention to their living habits and hygiene habits, which aggravates the occurrence of tooth decay.

What are the symptoms of tooth decay?

1. Areas prone to dental caries

The areas where dental caries are prone to occur are closely related to whether food is easily retained. The most common sites for caries include pits and fissures, proximal surfaces and tooth necks.

2. Teeth prone to caries

The distribution of dental caries is basically symmetrical on the left and right sides, with more caries in the mandibular than in the maxillary, and more in the posterior teeth than in the anterior teeth. The caries rate in the mandibular anterior teeth is the lowest.

3. Degree of caries

Clinically, caries can cause changes in color, shape, and quality, with quality change being the main change. Changes in color and shape are the result of quality change.

4. Types of carious lesions

(1) Chronic caries generally progress slowly, especially in adults, most of which are chronic;

(2) Acute caries is more common in children, adolescents, pregnant women or people with poor health. The treatment course is short and the progression is fast, with more soft caries;

(3) Static caries: Because local cariogenic factors are eliminated, the progression of caries is very slow or stops completely, which is called static caries.

(4) Secondary caries often occurs when the carious tissue is not cleaned during the treatment process or the edges of the restoration are not tightly closed, forming cracks and causing caries to occur again.