Baby tooth decay is more common than you might imagine. Despite this, many parents overlook the issue, and there’s a widespread misconception that decay only affects older children, not infants. As a result, decay in a child’s teeth may go unnoticed until an emergency room visit around the age of four. This can impact the function of the child’s baby teeth, their overall growth, and potentially their permanent teeth later in life.
This comprehensive guide explains the symptoms of tooth decay in infants, helping parents detect it early and take necessary action. We’ll also share how to protect your child’s teeth.
Check Your Baby’s Teeth at AlDur Al-Manthour Clinics
Our clinic offers the best pediatric and special needs dental care, ensuring your child’s comfort and safety. We achieve this by selecting the top dentists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and providing the latest equipment for precise examinations and swift diagnoses with minimal steps. Our doctors specialize in pediatric dentistry, offering the best treatments for early childhood caries (ECC). They can assess your child’s risk of decay and provide parents with the necessary guidance and education to prevent it. Contact us today to book an appointment and evaluate your little one’s decay risk.
Committing to regular dental checkups for your child from day one not only helps maintain the health of their baby teeth but also preserves the beauty of their smile, boosting their confidence and quality of life.
How Does Baby Tooth Decay Happen?
You might wonder how an infant, still in the breastfeeding stage, can develop tooth decay when milk—whether breast milk or formula—is beneficial for teeth due to its calcium and protein content. The answer lies in the fact that milk, whether from the mother or a bottle, contains sugars. If a baby falls asleep while feeding from a bottle, the milk remains in their mouth during sleep, leading to what’s often called “bottle tooth decay.”
The sugars in the milk are consumed by beneficial bacteria in the mouth, which feed and multiply. This process produces acids in the mouth, and these acids are strong enough to penetrate the tooth layers, weakening them by replacing calcium and phosphate ions in the tooth structure, thus compromising its integrity.
However, milk isn’t the sole cause of decay. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry explains that the causes of tooth decay in children are more complex than just feeding practices during infancy. This type of decay, affecting children under six years old, is known as Early Childhood Caries (ECC).
Symptoms of Baby Tooth Decay
The symptoms of tooth decay in infants aren’t much different from those in older children or adults—they stem from the same root cause. However, the challenge with infants lies in two key issues: first, they can’t express the pain they feel, and second, some parents don’t expect decay in a baby or give it the attention it deserves.
Here are the main symptoms of decay to watch for:
- Bad breath.
- Tooth pain in children.
- Eating and sleeping difficulties due to severe pain.
- Increased sensitivity to hot or cold.
- Gum inflammation and swelling.
- White spots on teeth that turn brown and eventually become cavities.
- Complete tooth destruction, leaving a small hole.
How Is Tooth Decay in Infants Treated?
The treatment of tooth decay in infancy depends on how deeply the decay has penetrated the teeth, which is why careful monitoring is crucial to prevent the condition from worsening and requiring more advanced treatment. Treatment can be divided into the following stages:
For Mild Decay
If the decay is just beginning and hasn’t yet formed a cavity, a pediatric dentist may treat it without surgical or painful interventions by:
- Applying fluoride varnish.
- Adjusting the child’s diet (e.g., reducing sugar intake).
- Improving oral hygiene habits (e.g., regular tooth brushing).
If the decay is mild but has progressed slightly, a simple dental filling may be used.
For Deep Decay
If the decay reaches the nerve, a pediatric root canal treatment (pulpotomy) may be required. In some cases, the affected baby tooth may need to be extracted.
If the condition requires surgical or advanced treatment, it’s important to note that such procedures can be challenging or unsafe for infants without specialized pediatric dental anesthesia.
In some cases, Silver Diamine Fluoride can be used as a temporary solution to halt the progression of decay until the child is older and can safely undergo surgical treatment without the need for anesthesia.
Preventing Baby Tooth Decay
Monitoring your child’s teeth is essential because children are more prone to decay due to their inability to clean their teeth properly, the thin enamel layer on their baby teeth, and their preference for sugary foods. Since prevention is better than cure, here are some precautionary steps to protect your child’s baby teeth from decay:
- Teach your child to use a child-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste daily.
- Ensure your child’s diet is balanced, minimizing sweets and simple starches.
- Schedule regular visits to a pediatric dentist to detect and treat decay early.
- Transition your child to drinking from a cup instead of a bottle, as bottle-feeding has been linked to decay.
Consequences of Neglecting Baby Tooth Decay
Early childhood tooth decay is not a trivial matter; it can have serious consequences for your child and should not be ignored. Some of the most significant consequences include:
Loss of Baby Teeth
Once cavities form, severe pain or even an abscess may occur, potentially leading to tooth loss. This doesn’t just affect the decayed tooth—it can impact the alignment of permanent teeth later on, as early loss of baby teeth can disrupt the spacing needed for permanent teeth, leading to misalignment issues.
Impact on Overall Health
When a child suffers from decay, chewing becomes difficult due to intense pain, hindering proper digestion and nutrient absorption. The child may also struggle to sleep due to discomfort, resulting in general weakness.
Reduced Self-Confidence
Teeth play a significant role in speech, and losing baby teeth can affect a child’s ability to pronounce certain words, potentially leading to bullying. This can reduce their willingness to play or interact with others, limiting their activities and lowering their quality of life.
Risk of Severe Infections
If decay is left untreated, it can develop into more dangerous, life-threatening infections, such as:
- Brain abscess.
- Ludwig’s angina, a severe infection under the tongue that can obstruct breathing and endanger the child’s life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Causes Black Spots on a Baby’s Teeth?
Black spots on a baby’s teeth are often a sign of decay that requires evaluation and treatment by a specialized dentist, as mentioned earlier.
When Is Tooth Decay in Children Dangerous?
Decay becomes dangerous if it spreads to the body, causing infections in the heart or brain, or if it disrupts breathing or sleep, thereby affecting the child’s overall health.
Can an 18-Month-Old Child Develop Tooth Decay?
Unfortunately, decay can affect both young children and adults. It’s more severe in young children due to their thinner enamel and parents’ tendency to neglect their dental care, assuming the teeth will be replaced as they grow.