Toddlers Teeth and Decay?

(March 3, 2010)

Tooth decay is one of the most common medical ailments for people of any age. In the initial phases of the deterioration of the teeth, small holes or cavities form on the outer surfaces of the teeth. These cavities are the result of the collapse of the hard dental tissue within the tooth. In the more severe cases of tooth decay, the cavity will be significantly deep and can significantly hamper the surrounding nerve tissues. Prevention is the best route when it comes to oral hygiene. Grooming your child to take up good oral habits goes a long way into keeping any future complications to a bare minimum. Certain factors will put certain children at a higher risk of tooth decay than others.

For example, children that are fond of sweets are more vulnerable than others because of the fact that the bacteria that resides on the surface is triggered into action when it comes in contact with any food substance and is more potent when interacting with sugar. The bacterium produces acid that affects the enamel coating of the teeth. As the bacteria continues to harm the enamel, the condition continues to deteriorate, causing severe nerve damage as well as complete destruction of the soft, pulpy tissue present in the jaws, holding the teeth in place. When a child is affected by toot decay, the pain is going to be the most prominent and intense symptom experienced initially. Other symptoms that the affected child is likely to experience include an intense fever and an inflammation of the jaw. One should also keep in mind that children are more susceptible to tooth decay because of the fact that their milk teeth do not have the dense coating of enamel and are, therefore, more vulnerable.

There are a number of simple habits that every toddler should follow in order to avoid being affected by a case of tooth decay in the future. Avoid feeding your child too many sweets or sugary treats while you should also limit the child’s snack and meal intake to a maximum of 5 a day. Make sure your toddler drinks plenty of water as this helps increase saliva production and wash away the sugar residue on the teeth. Regular dentist checkups are essential if you want your child to retain good oral hygiene. You should also make your child brush his teeth at least twice a day to help remove any small food particles that are lodged in between two teeth.

Submitted by P T on March 3, 2010 at 12:21