How to Prevent and Treat Tooth Decay in Children?

Early tooth decay in children is often referred to as cavities or dental caries. In fact, it is an early stage of decay where the outer surface of the tooth (the tooth enamel) erodes to form a cavity or hole. Left untreated, the cavity progresses to the tooth pulp and nerves. It results in pain, sensitivity of teeth to hot or cold stimuli, gum infections, and eventually, tooth loss. 

The Indian Dental Association (IDA) refers to tooth decay in kids and toddlers as early childhood caries. It is also known as baby bottle tooth decay or nursing bottle caries that affects baby teeth. It is a common form of dental decay and mostly involves the primary incisors on the upper jaw and the primary molars on both jaws.

Despite all the care that you give to your child, you may wonder what causes tooth decay in the first place. It is often a result of poor oral hygiene. Following a meal, harmful bacteria in the mouth feed on the residual sugars and starches sticking to the teeth. This releases acids that erode the hard outer surface (the enamel) and dissolve its essential minerals, causing tooth decay. 

Saliva helps repair the damage by restoring the lost minerals back onto the teeth. However, prolonged exposure to bacterial acids weakens the teeth further and leads to holes or cavities. Baby bottle decay often results from the habit of letting the baby sleep with a bottle of milk or sweet drinks. Amidst insufficient dental hygiene that promotes plaque bacteria, various factors that contribute to childhood tooth decay causes include:

• Feeding the baby at night or letting to sleep with a feeding bottle containing juice or milk.

• Frequent consumption of sugary foods, soft drinks, or sweetened fruit juices.

• Insufficient intake of minerals such as fluoride that helps strengthen teeth and resist tooth decay.

Milk teeth decay is a common dental problem among young children. It easily affects the upper incisors and the upper and lower molars. Due to the cleansing action of saliva and tongue, the lower incisors are less affected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that cavities in kids cause pain if not treated. They also affect their nutrition, speech, learning and playing.

As childhood dental caries develop over time, early detection of decay may not be easy. However, you may watch out for the following signs of tooth decay in children to take proactive measures to care for your toddler’s primary teeth:

• A faded white spot or a white band on the tooth surface close to the gumline often goes unnoticed and is an early sign of decay.

• A yellow, brown or black band on the tooth surface indicates an early cavity. 

• Dark spots on teeth or teeth that look black or brown and broken indicate deeper cavities and advanced decay.

• A toothache that lasts for several days and occurs randomly or after drinking or eating is a sign of severe decay.

• Sensitivity of teeth and gums to hot or cold foods or drinks occurs as the enamel erodes and exposes the tooth structures below.

• Crying, reluctance to food, mouth swelling, and bad breath indicate advanced tooth decay.

There are several ways to get rid of cavities in kids. However, once a cavity develops, timely treatment is important to relieve the toothache and discomforts faced by your child. It saves the decayed tooth from further damage and prevents the premature loss of baby teeth due to cavities. This is crucial for the permanent teeth to come in properly. 

If you spot any of the above symptoms in your child, it is essential to consult the child’s dentist for dental treatment. Diagnosis of the decay may involve detailed examination and X-rays. It is ideal to avoid trying home remedies as they lack scientific proof and can be potentially harmful. There are different child tooth decay treatment options in dentistry. They vary depending on the extent of the decay and cavities. They include the following:

• Dental Filling: For early cavities, the dentist first cleans out the decay. The hole is then filled with a dental restorative material. The filling helps to protect the affected tooth from further decay and damage. Dental fillings can be done on baby teeth as well as permanent teeth.

• Dental Crown: If the cavity has damaged the tooth badly, a dental crown helps protect it further and prevent the need for extraction. The child’s dentist first uses numbing medications on the affected area and then cleans out the decay. The tooth is then shaped for the crown to fit in properly. Unlike adults, treatment for kids usually gets completed in a single dental visit.

As a parent, the best way to protect your kids’ smile is to ensure proactive care for their teeth. It includes oral hygiene habits that should ideally begin before teething, such as wiping the tender gums with a clean, wet gauze pad after every meal or feeding. As teeth erupt, consistent oral care is crucial. By age two, may consider using the best toothpaste for cavities in children.

Dental health also requires being mindful of the kid’s diet and intake of minerals such as fluoride. Some habits may have to be dropped, and others newly included to keep the kid’s milk teeth healthy and preserve the adult teeth that come in later. Prevention of tooth decay in kids and their progression into cavities can be achieved using the following dental care tips:

• Proper Oral Hygiene: As the first tooth erupts, you may clean the child’s teeth after meals and before bed using a kids’ toothbrush and water. Flossing can begin as adjacent teeth erupt. For instance, you may try the Colgate Toothbrush for Kids (0 - 2 years). Its small brush head offers easy access to the child’s mouth, and its extra-soft bristles are gentle on the tender teeth and gums.

Try Colgate Toothbrush for Kids (0-2 years) now to keep your child’s tender teeth cavity-free!

• Regular Dental Visits: Dental hygiene also includes regular dental check-ups starting from six months after the first teeth have erupted. As the kid develops a full set of milk teeth, regular check-ups and dental cleanings help eliminate plaque build-up that may have escaped daily oral care and rule out potential oral problems, including dental caries.

• Fluoride Intake: Fluoride strengthens the enamel and helps reverse early decay. Fluoridated tap water intake facilitates the development of cavity-resistant teeth in children between 6 and 16 years of age. If the intake is not sufficient, professional fluoride treatments for teeth may be necessary. Dentists also recommend the use of fluoride toothpaste for children (with supervision for ages 6 and below) and adults. When the kid turns two and learns to spit, you may start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste while brushing. For instance, you may try the Colgate Toothpaste for Kids (0–2 years) which is 50% less abrasive than adult toothpaste and enamel-friendly. It helps resist plaque build-up and cavities in kids. It contains natural fruit flavour and has no artificial ingredients.

Get the Colgate Toothpaste for Kids (0-2 yrs) now to guard your child's teeth from cavities!

• Dental Varnish: It is a thin coating of fluoride that is painted onto the surface of the teeth. The fluoride in the varnish helps remineralize the enamel, making the teeth more resistant to decay. Dental varnish is especially beneficial for children and those at higher risk of tooth decay. The application process is simple, painless, and takes only a few minutes. The varnish adheres to the teeth and continues to release fluoride over time. The Indian Dental Association (IDA) recommends consulting a dentist to determine if dental varnish is suitable for your child’s oral health needs. Regular applications can significantly improve dental health and prevent cavities.

• Dental Sealant: The chewing side of the back teeth usually has deeper grooves where food debris gets stuck and bacteria thrive. Sealant is a coating applied on the chewing surface to prevent food residues and plaque from sticking and causing decay. This makes the molars less susceptible to tooth decay. Sealants last for many years before having to be replaced. The IDA recommends you ask a paediatric dentist if a dental sealant is appropriate for your child’s teeth.

• Dietary habits: Your child’s eating habits are also crucial in preventing decay. Ensure a nutritional diet and rinse the mouth with water after every meal. Ideally, do not let the kid sleep with a bottle of milk or sweetened juice. Limit foods loaded with sugars, starches and carbohydrates that linger on teeth and promote tooth decay. Cutting down on soft drinks and frequent snacking also helps reduce the risk of childhood tooth decay.

Tooth decay in kids is a common concern that can be prevented with proactive measures as part of the child’s healthcare. As the milk teeth develop, ensuring consistent oral hygiene with brushing, flossing, using fluoride toothpaste, and regular dental check-ups are essential. Fluoride intake through drinking water and limiting sugary drinks and snacks can prevent decay and cavities. With a proper dental care regimen, you can protect your child’s healthy smile.

1. What deficiency causes tooth decay in kids?

   Inadequate intake of fluoride is one of the factors that promote tooth decay in children. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens teeth, inhibits dental caries and reverses early decay by promoting remineralisation of teeth. Fluoride intake is usually met through fluoridated drinking water, foods and the use of fluoride toothpaste.

2. What happens if a child has tooth decay?

   If a child has tooth decay, it can form a cavity and create discomfort if left untreated. Initially, it causes sensitivity to hot or cold foods. As the decay progresses, it can been seen as dark dips on the teeth and lead to infections, toothache, difficulty eating, and tooth loss. So it is crucial to treat tooth decay early on to prevent such implications.

3. How common is tooth decay in kids?

   Tooth decay in kids is a common concern among toddlers and young adults. A large number of children aged between 5 and 15 years have tooth decay. A survey conducted by the Dental Council of India notes the presence of dental caries in over 50% of children aged 5 and 60% of those aged 15.

4. How do I stop my child's teeth from rotting?

   Though advanced cavities in kids require dental treatments, there are measures you can adopt to prevent dental caries and rotting of the kids’ teeth. Consistent oral hygiene habits, including brushing, flossing, using fluoride toothpaste and regular dental visits, are crucial. Limiting sugary foods and drinks and the use of dental sealants can be helpful.