Tooth Decay In Toddlers

Tooth decay is a serious dental problem that can affect various age groups from toddlers to adults. This dental problem in toddlers is especially disconcerting since it can cause your child pain, and if it is not prevented, it may result to expensive treatment and lead to ongoing problems.

Why is it important to prevent tooth decay in toddlers? Primary teeth will be replaced by permanent once in no time, so why should tooth decay be a problem? These are the common questions and misconception of parents. As a parent, you have to understand that your toddler's primary teeth are as important as their permanent teeth. The importance of primary teeth:

Allow your child to bite and chew their food Vital for proper speech development
This disease occurs if tiny specks of food are left on the teeth after a meal or a drink. The germs in the toddler's mouth will turn the bits of food into acid. As time passes, the acid will eat away the tooth surface which will eventually create holes or cavities in the tooth.

This dental problem can cause your child pain and can lead to infection, and can even affect their growth. Severe dental caries in your toddler's primary teeth can have serious consequences for his or her speech and jaw development. Other complications include:

Higher risk of tooth decay in permanent teeth Complicated and expensive treatment Nervousness when visiting the dentist since your child might start to associate going to the dentist with pain Pain and distress

For these reasons, it is best to detect signs of dental caries at its early stages. Although this disease can be hard to spot, there are certain signs to watch out for:

The upper incisors have a white band, along the gum line Brown spots on the toddler's teeth The baby's gums look red and swollen For advanced tooth decay, blackened areas on the tooth surface

Simple Methods To Prevent Dental