Myths and Facts About Cavities in Children
Parents are often puzzled by cavities that develop in the teeth of their children. Most of these children are too young, in the eyes of their parents, to have such dental condition. Facts are, children can experience tooth decay almost as soon as their teeth come in, so understanding what causes cavities, and staying away from misinformation and myth, is the best way to maintain a child’s dental health.
One of the many complaints that dentists hear from parents is that a child should never have cavities if he or she avoids eats sugar. This is not exactly the case. Many people believe that white sugar, candy, and other sweets are the main causes of cavities in children. They believe that by simply preventing their children from eating these foods, they will protect them against cavities.
The facts are quite different. In actuality, there are a number of hidden sugars in foods that most people would never refer to as sweets. Breads, milk, and even potatoes contain sugars that can and do cause cavities in children. Still other foods normally labeled nutritious, such as fruit, can be turned into derivative snack products that cause tooth decay. Fruit rollups and raisins both have certain types of sugars that stick to the tooth surfaces. These sugars will remain on the tooth enamel longer than those in a soda. Surprisingly as well, any drink in a baby bottle, even milk, has enough sugar to cause tooth decay if the baby keeps the milk in his or her mouth for a long enough period of time.
If a person has a nursing infant and the upper teeth are still coming in, the teeth will be exposed for prolonged periods of time during nursing. Oral bacteria feed on the sugars in milk and will damage an infant’s formative teeth if action is not taken. The best defense against cavities in infant children is to use a special, soft bristle toothbrush made just for babies. Teeth can also be wiped with a washcloth, cotton swap, or cotton ball after each feeding.
There is another myth going around that genetics somehow causes cavities in children. While it may be true that genetics plays a possible role, the facts are that cavities are almost always the result of behavior or negligence, not some unknown force in the DNA. For instance, if one child out of a family of 5 has six cavities, and the rest of the children have none, there is more than likely some very simple, rational explanation. The child may be eating more treats or using improper brushing or flossing techniques.
In such instances, guidance and supervision are the only ways to direct children into better eating habits and dental hygiene practices.
One of the many complaints that dentists hear from parents is that a child should never have cavities if he or she avoids eats sugar. This is not exactly the case. Many people believe that white sugar, candy, and other sweets are the main causes of cavities in children. They believe that by simply preventing their children from eating these foods, they will protect them against cavities.
The facts are quite different. In actuality, there are a number of hidden sugars in foods that most people would never refer to as sweets. Breads, milk, and even potatoes contain sugars that can and do cause cavities in children. Still other foods normally labeled nutritious, such as fruit, can be turned into derivative snack products that cause tooth decay. Fruit rollups and raisins both have certain types of sugars that stick to the tooth surfaces. These sugars will remain on the tooth enamel longer than those in a soda. Surprisingly as well, any drink in a baby bottle, even milk, has enough sugar to cause tooth decay if the baby keeps the milk in his or her mouth for a long enough period of time.
If a person has a nursing infant and the upper teeth are still coming in, the teeth will be exposed for prolonged periods of time during nursing. Oral bacteria feed on the sugars in milk and will damage an infant’s formative teeth if action is not taken. The best defense against cavities in infant children is to use a special, soft bristle toothbrush made just for babies. Teeth can also be wiped with a washcloth, cotton swap, or cotton ball after each feeding.
There is another myth going around that genetics somehow causes cavities in children. While it may be true that genetics plays a possible role, the facts are that cavities are almost always the result of behavior or negligence, not some unknown force in the DNA. For instance, if one child out of a family of 5 has six cavities, and the rest of the children have none, there is more than likely some very simple, rational explanation. The child may be eating more treats or using improper brushing or flossing techniques.
In such instances, guidance and supervision are the only ways to direct children into better eating habits and dental hygiene practices.
Labels: cavities in children, pediatric dentistry, tooth brushing, tooth decay
posted by Dental Expert at
11:06 PM
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