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What happens if baby has tooth decay?
Decay in baby teeth can cause pain, and the infection can spread. If decay is not treated, it can destroy the baby teeth. Tooth decay can also have an effect on a child’s general health. If a child has tooth pain, she may have trouble eating.
Can rotted baby teeth be fixed?
When a tooth can’t be saved due to severe rot, your dentist may extract the tooth and replace it with a denture, bridge, or an implant. If your child has a rotten baby tooth that can’t be fixed with a dental filling, you may feel a root canal is unnecessary since this isn’t your child’s permanent tooth.
What does decay look like on baby teeth?
Tooth decay on the top front teeth of an infant or small child is called Early Childhood Caries. This decay may look like white spots, dark pits, holes or broken teeth and may be painful making it hard for your child to eat.
Is toddler tooth decay common?
Dental caries (cavities) are common in baby teeth. In fact, experts share that some 20 percent of kids ages 2 to 5 may have untreated cavities. While your child will eventually lose their primary (baby) teeth, taking care of those teeth is important because they hold space for adult teeth.
Can milk cause tooth decay in toddlers?
All types of milk can cause cavities if they are inappropriately consumed. For example, cavities on the upper front teeth can develop if a baby with teeth is put to bed at night with a bottle of milk. However, plain cow’s milk typically does not cause cavities if it is given in a cup with meals.
At what age should you stop breastfeeding?
The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning. It is up to you and your baby to decide when the time is right.
What happens if you don’t fill a cavity in a baby tooth?
Assessing your child’s cavity risk Cavities are infections and may recommend fixing cavities on baby teeth if it is a significant infection. Cavities can pass from tooth to tooth, just like a cold. So, if you leave a cavity in a tooth long enough, your child’s other teeth can start to get cavities.
Can bottle feeding cause tooth decay?
There are many factors which can cause tooth decay. One common cause is the frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to drinks that contain sugar. Tooth decay can occur when the baby is put to bed with a bottle, or when a bottle is used as a pacifier for a fussy baby.
What causes tooth decay in babies?
Causes of Tooth Decay in Babies Tooth decay develops when a baby’s mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria. Parents and caregivers can pass bacteria to babies through saliva.
Why do cavities commonly form on a child’s molars?
Cavities commonly form on a child’s molars because baby tooth enamel is very fragile. Also, children often do not follow complete dental health care practices, making their teeth more prone to decay. Untreated decay in baby teeth can also lead to more serious oral health conditions and diseases.
What does tooth decay look like in a child?
Tooth decay might first appear as white spots at the gum line on the upper front teeth. These spots are hard to see at first—even for a child’s doctor or dentist—without proper equipment. A child with tooth decay needs to be examined and treated early to stop the decay from spreading and to prevent further damage.
Is your child at risk for tooth decay?
All children have bacteria in their mouth. So all children are at risk for tooth decay. But the following may raise your child’s risk for it: What are the symptoms of tooth decay in a child? The following is the common way that teeth develop decay and cavities. But decay may be a bit different for each child.