Baby teeth may be temporary but they are important. If you lose them too early, the remaining teeth may move and may not leave any room for the adult teeth to come in. And if left untreated, tooth decay in babies may cause severe pain and life-threatening infections.

What causes tooth decay in babies?

Tooth decay in infants and very young children happens when the baby’s mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria. The bacteria can be passed on from the caregiver to the baby through saliva. It could be through cleaning off the pacifier in the caregiver’s mouth or sharing spoons and cups.

The biggest culprit of tooth decay in babies is the sugar that clings to the infant’s teeth for a long time. This can happen when infants are handed with pacifiers dipped in syrup or sugar and giving a sugary drink at naptime or bedtime.

Why tooth decay in very young children is an issue?

Baby teeth play a significant role in speaking, chewing, and smiling. They also serve as placeholders for adult teeth. If they are severely damaged early on, they may need to be removed. 

When babies lose their teeth too early, he or she may end up having crooked teeth, poor eating habits, and speech problems. 

How to prevent baby tooth decay?

As a caregiver, there are things you can do to prevent this from happening:

• Don’t fill bottles with sugary drinks like fruit juice (even if it’s mixed with water) and soft drinks.
• Never allow your child to sleep with a bottle containing anything but water.
• Never dip your child’s pacifier in anything sweet.
• Reduce your child’s sugar intake especially before nap or bedtime.
• Wipe your baby’s gums teeth with clean gauze or washcloth after each feeding.
• When the first tooth comes in, begin brushing your child’s teeth with a toothbrush without toothpaste.
• Begin flossing when all the teeth have come in.
• Schedule regular dental visits. 

Cakmes Dental Studio takes pride in providing high-quality dental care for families. To request an appointment, you can call us at (865) 584-6163.

References:

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/what-is-baby-bottle-tooth-decay

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/teething-tooth-care/Pages/How-to-Prevent-Tooth-Decay-in-Your-Baby.aspx

At Cakmes Dental Studio, we use the latest dental technology to help you achieve your most beautiful and natural smile. One of the advanced  technologies that we have adopted is CEREC.

What is CEREC?

CEREC or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics is a computer-aided restoration technique. It uses a machine that combines a camera, computer, and milling instrument to create tooth restorations in the dental office, in just a single visit.

Traditionally, tooth restoration takes several visits to the dentist as the process involves sending your tooth mold to an outside lab and creating a temporary crown for you. This part of the process is eliminated in CEREC. 

This system isn’t just more efficient than the traditional restoration process, but it’s also shown to be safer and more effective.

How does it work?

The process begins with your dentist preparing your tooth for restoration. Using advanced software and technology, CEREC takes a photo of the treatment area and converts that into a 3D virtual model.

With feedback from your dentist, the machine creates the final tooth restoration. The milling instrument that it comes with precisely carves a ceramic block based on the exact specifications of your restoration. Your dentist will ensure that the restoration fits well in your mouth before polishing and bonding it to your tooth.

The whole process usually doesn’t take longer than 2 hours.

What are the benefits of CEREC restoration?

Since CEREC uses advanced digital technology, the tooth restoration has a much better fit. This significantly decreases your chance of getting tooth and gum infections as gaps in the teeth and gums can be breeding grounds for bacteria. 

Metal restorations may contain some toxic chemicals that may be hazardous to your health. This won’t happen in CEREC as all of its restorations are metal-free.

Lastly, tooth restorations done through CEREC last long and feel more natural than restorations done traditionally.

Want to find out if CEREC would work well for you? Call us 865-584-6163 for more info. 

Reference:

Timber Hill Dental