Tooth Decay in Children
Tooth decay is a common oral disease that not only affects adults, but also children. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 28% of children develop a cavity between the ages of 2 to 5 and about 42% develop at least one cavity between the ages of 2 to 11.
Children Are More Prone To Tooth Decay
Children are sensitive and so do the enamel on their teeth. The enamel layer on children teeth is not only soft, but also very thin as compared to that of adults. This makes it highly vulnerable to bacteria and damage.
What makes the condition worse is the fact that a lot of parents do not develop teeth brushing habit among toddlers, allowing the bacteria to stay and grow in their mouth and cause cavities and tooth decay.
Causes of Tooth Decay in Children
According to dentists, following factors contribute to tooth decay in children:
Going To Bed With Bottles
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry has stated that the biggest cause of cavities and tooth decay in children is the fact that they go to bed with their bottles, which are usually filled with juices or milk. As long as the bottle is filled with anything else than water, it creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that harm children’s teeth and cause various oral health problems, including decay.
Too Much Consumption of Sugar
According to a scientific statement published in ‘Circulation’, a journal of American Heart Association, children between the ages of 2 to 18 should not consume more than six teaspoons of added sugar in a day. A 12 ounce can of carbonated drink contains about 9 teaspoons of sugar. This is enough to tell how much sugar children are consuming these days.
The fact that children often sip on juices and other sugary drinks and suck candies and gummies makes their teeth even more susceptible to decay. This is because such poor eating habits increase the time children’s teeth are exposed to sugar, giving bacteria enough time and ideal environment to flourish.
Poor Hygiene
A lot of parents think that toddlers do not need to brush teeth and this is probably the biggest harm they are doing to their children’s oral health. As soon as the first tooth of your baby appears, it needs to be regularly cleaned. Inculcating good oral care habits in children is the best guard against bacterial growth and several oral health problems.
