Pediatric Dentistry
Baby's Teeth
A comforting solution today could lead to a greater problem tomorrow.
When babies cry it's natural to want to comfort them, but giving them a bottle containing a sweet drink, or a pacifier dipped in sugary water is not the way to do it. Babies can develop Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, caused by sugar clinging to the baby's teeth that is used by bacteria in the mouth as a food source. The metabolic activity or the bacteria produce acids that in turn attack the baby's teeth causing caries or what is commonly called tooth decay.
Even though permanent teeth will eventually replace baby teeth, it is important to be watchful of your baby's teeth and overall dental health to ensure healthy gums and healthy properly positioned permanent teeth. Untreated carious primary teeth (baby teeth) can cause several problems. Carious primary teeth (baby teeth) can become abscessed causing oral infections for the baby, which can have serious health consequences for the baby. Carious primary teeth (baby teeth) can transmit the caries to the permanent teeth causing the permanent teeth to become carious and brake down. Carious primary teetah (baby teeth) can cause the misalignment of permanent teeth if the primary teeth (baby teeth) are not restored to their proper size since the primary teeth (baby teeth) establish and maintain proper spacing for the erupting permanent teeth.
A few simple steps to prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay:
- Don't allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, fruit juice, breast milk or any other sweetened liquid.
- After feedings wipe baby's gums and teeth if present with a clean damp cloth.
- You can even start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears, and it's best to wean babies by their first birthday and begin offering liquids in a cup.
- Take your child for regular dental visits.
What to look for...
Dull white spots or lines on the teeth may be the first signs of cavities then the baby's teeth will become dark and pited as the disease progresses. If you do suspect that your child may have baby bottle tooth decay, see your dentist right away.
What to expect...
A child will normally have all twenty primary teeth (baby teeth) by the age of three. By age five permanent teeth will begin replacing primary teeth (baby teeth). However, if a primary tooth (baby tooth) is lost early, whether to tooth decay or to an accident, the surrounding teeth may shift position or tip into the vacant space. If this occurs, a permanent tooth may not have enough room to grow in properly, and can come in crooked or rotated. However, the space left by a lost primary tooth (baby tooth) can be kept open by a space maintainer fitted and placed by your dentist, pediatric dentist or orthodontist. The space maintainer will allow the permanent tooth to position itself properly, and will then be removed by your dentist when the permanent tooth is ready to erupt. A space maintainer can be attached to one primariy tooth (baby tooth) or to the two primary teeth (baby teeth) on opposite sides of the vacant space, and can be a removable or fixed appliance.
While taking away from a nice smile, crooked teeth are also difficult to clean and therefore are more susceptible to decay, chewing is more difficult and crooked teeth tend to wear down quicker than straight teeth. Ensuring that baby's primary teeth (baby teeth) remain healthy will result in healthy permanent teeth. If you have questions about your baby's teeth or if your child has lost a primary tooth, don't hesitate to call and talk to Dr. Perziosi.
