Even infants need their teeth taken care of. Even if their teeth have not fully grown yet, children are still at risk of dental health problems that may carry on as they grow up. Pediatric dentists recommend that children have their first dental checkup at six months old—or at least before their first birthday.
Baby teeth play a huge role in dental development. It is essential for parents to take their child to the dentist as early as possible so that they can check for any onset of problems, which may be detected and treated before they get worse.
Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health problems in children. It is also referred to as “baby bottle tooth decay.”
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
This refers to the tooth decay in infants and young children. This usually affects the front teeth. Caused by excessive sugar coming in contact with the teeth when drinks like milk, sodas, or fruit juices get stuck on the teeth for long periods of time, these give bacteria something to consume. The bacteria emit harmful acids that attack and break down the tooth enamel.
Once the infection spreads, this causes pain and discomfort and eventually destroys baby teeth. When baby teeth take damage and it becomes impossible to save them, they cannot serve their purpose anymore, which is to function as space savers for adult teeth. This makes children more prone to malocclusions in the future.
Severely decayed teeth may result in an abscessed tooth, which may infect other parts of the body.
Don’t wait until your child howls in pain before you bring them to the dentist. Their dental health is just as important as an adult’s. If they start suffering from oral health problems early on, this makes their mouth more vulnerable to bacteria that may cause severe issues such as gum problems and eventually, tooth loss.
