Say aaah: What parents might not know about childhood cavities

  • Published
  • By Captain Jon Federspiel
  • 82nd Dental Squadron
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Often times it is easy for parents to pick up a dropped pacifier, pop it into their mouth, and then turn it over to their crying baby. Did you know that bacteria in your mouth can be transferred to your child's mouth and cause childhood cavities?

This simple action seems harmless enough; however, it can have far-reaching consequences, including contaminating a child's mouth with harmful bacteria that cause cavities (also known as caries). As a parent, it is important to understand what puts a child at risk for caries and what parents can do to help prevent them.

Everyone has oral bacteria that are a normal part of the mouth. Whether the bacteria are harmless or not depends on oral hygiene and a host of other factors. Dental caries are caused by a transmissible bacterium called Mutans Streptococci.

These bacteria settle on the surfaces of teeth and feed off sugars introduced into the mouth, eventually causing a breakdown of the tooth structure resulting in caries. Caries that occur in infants, toddlers and young children are known as Early Childhood Caries.

What causes ECC

As mentioned earlier, bacteria can spread from parent to child. The most common mode of parent-to-child bacteria transmission is through a parent cleaning a spoon or pacifier with their mouth and then placing it into the child's mouth.

Parents tend to do this as a protective measure or a way to "clean" these items with their own saliva but in reality it actually introduces loads of harmful bacteria into the child's oral cavity.

Another possible source of ECC is sugar. Sugar is the fuel that feeds bacteria. The higher the sugar in a child's diet, the greater their risk is for tooth decay.

It is important to avoid habits such as putting a child to sleep with a bottle of milk or dipping a pacifier in honey. These actions create a "sugar bath" which feeds oral bacteria and leads to the development of more bacteria. Increased levels of bacteria lead to tooth enamel destruction resulting in ECC.

The good news is that EcC is 100 percent preventable. Parents can greatly increase their child's oral health and well-being by using the following guidelines:
  • Parents should try to refrain from any activity that can potentially introduce their saliva into a baby's mouth such as cleaning a pacifier with their mouth or sharing a kitchen utensil.
     
  • Children should never fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, juice or other sweetened liquid. Water is the only safe liquid to give to a baby at bedtime.
     
  • Infants and young children should be weaned from bottles and sippy cups as soon as they can efficiently drink from a normal cup.
     
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 4-6 ounces of fruit juice per day for children between the ages of one and six.
     
  • After each feeding, wipe the baby's gums and teeth with a damp cloth. This will help rid the surfaces of harmful sugars and bacteria.
     
  • When a parent sees the first sign of teeth, it is advised to clean the teeth with a baby tooth brush and water and to schedule an appointment with a dentist to establish effective, lifelong and good oral hygiene habits.
     
  • Parents should assist children with brushing their teeth until they are at least six years old. This will ensure proper cleansing and diminish the harmful bacteria on teeth.
These are only a few suggestions on how to prevent Early Childhood Caries. For more information or questions, call the Sheppard Dental Clinic at (940) 676-4474.