Decay of baby teeth

Caries of baby teeth in children has recently become a very pressing problem for both parents and dentists. This pathological process is increasingly found in children under 2 years old.

According to some medical data, the incidence of caries in children aged 1 year and above has increased sharply, and nowadays 80% of children under 4 years of age have at least one decayed ("carious") tooth. In order to prevent the development of caries in preschool children, caring parents need to learn as much information as possible to recognize the insidious disease in time and contact a specialist, thereby preventing the deterioration of the child's health.

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Causes of caries in baby teeth

Caries of baby teeth is the development of a pathological process in the hard tissues of a child's teeth, leading to the gradual destruction of tooth enamel, as well as internal tissue damage. This pathological process manifests itself in several forms and stages. At the very beginning, caries declares itself as a superficial damage to tooth enamel, but if timely treatment is not carried out, it can form a deep cavity inside the tooth, and then penetrate its tissues and cause an inflammatory process. First of all, the baby's upper milk incisors, as well as the enamel surface of the molars that perform the chewing function, can suffer from caries.

The onset of caries development is observed during the intrauterine period, if the fetus has affected tooth rudiments, which usually form in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is for this reason that the expectant mother is advised to be especially careful during this period. The main reason for the occurrence and development of caries in children is considered to be a violation of the structure of tooth tissues. Usually, expectant mothers have diseases such as rheumatism, hypertension, all kinds of infections and viral infections, as well as various diseases of the endocrine system, or severe toxicosis. Factors that provoke the development of early caries can be smoking by the pregnant mother, or excessive use of various drugs by the woman throughout the pregnancy.

During the period of eruption of the first teeth of the child, it is necessary to remember about maintaining oral hygiene. What are the causes of caries of baby teeth? The main factors that cause caries are:

• failure to comply with or neglect of the rules of oral hygiene and gums of the child;
• poor nutrition with excessive consumption of carbohydrate foods and sweet dishes;
• using nipples, as well as bottles with nipples to feed the baby over a long period of time (putting the baby to sleep with such a bottle in his mouth provokes the rapid progression of the so-called "bottle" caries);
• artificial feeding of an infant due to an infectious or hemolytic disease;
• the absence in the child's diet of microelements (in particular, fluorine), which are important for the growth processes of the child's body.

The above-mentioned "bottle" caries deserves special attention. It can quickly destroy a baby's teeth, preventing them from fully developing in the future. This type of caries initially manifests itself as a characteristic plaque on the enamel, which has a brown color, and then provokes rotting and almost complete destruction of the child's teeth. The cause of this negative process is the contact of the baby's teeth for a long period with the sweet mixture contained in the feeding bottle.

Thus, a special environment is created in the baby's mouth, which is very favorable for the reproduction of harmful bacteria. For such bacteria, carbohydrates are a natural source of energy, the processing of which results in an acid that literally "eats away" the enamel of baby teeth.

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Symptoms of dental caries in baby teeth

Caries of baby teeth has several stages of development. Therefore, if any pathologies occur in the form of plaque that cannot be removed, white or brown spots on the tooth enamel, the child must be urgently shown to a pediatric dentist.

The main symptoms of caries in childhood can be the child's complaints about various unpleasant sensations when eating food, especially cold or hot food - in such cases, it is quite possible that caries has already penetrated into the deeper tissues of the tooth. Therefore, parents need to pay special attention to such complaints of the child so that they can provide timely assistance. Often, it is difficult for a child to formulate his thoughts, and he cannot explain in detail what exactly is bothering him. However, even a child's refusal of a certain food or food in general should immediately alert parents. A child chewing food on one side of the mouth may also indicate that the child has pain in the teeth.

It is not so difficult to determine caries of baby teeth in small children. Visually, you can notice spots on carious teeth (usually white or brown), and also observe the baby's painful reaction to eating certain foods. In addition, the child may have an unpleasant smell from the mouth (this occurs due to the decay processes that occur as a result of rapidly developing caries).

The first symptoms of caries in baby teeth should cause an immediate reaction from parents, because this process can develop very quickly, instantly affecting several teeth at once. If you do not sound the alarm and do not take appropriate measures for a long time, then the child's entire dental row may be affected by caries.

What does caries in baby teeth look like?

Deciduous tooth decay can be divided into several types, depending on its visual manifestation, the depth of damage to the enamel and dental tissue, as well as symptoms. Parents often ask the question, "What does deciduous tooth decay look like?" To answer this question, it is necessary to list the main stages of the disease:

• Initial stage of caries. Characteristic signs of this process are the appearance of white spots of various sizes on the tooth enamel, while there is still no pain. If treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, the next stage of the development of initial caries will be the darkening of the spots (they will become brown or black). It should be noted that at the initial stage of development, caries can still be completely prevented.
• Superficial type of caries. This type of pathological process is characterized by tissue defects of the damaged tooth, which initially appear exclusively on its surface. The baby already experiences pain, but mainly when eating something sweet, sour, or salty.
• Medium degree of caries. Accompanied by severe pain in the tooth, including that which occurs when cold or too hot food is applied to it. In this case, caries quickly affects both the enamel and dentin (i.e. the internal tissues) of the teeth.
• Deep caries. This is the most dangerous stage of the disease. Both the enamel and most of the internal tissues of the tooth are affected. Such caries causes the child to be reluctant to eat, lose appetite, and be frequently capricious. Most often, this is explained by constant toothache.

It should be taken into account that caries of baby teeth quite often affects the entire dental row. Sometimes the number of carious teeth in a child reaches 20. In addition, several cavities can form in one tooth at once, since in small children, due to their anatomical features, the enamel layer is much thinner, as well as the internal tissues of the tooth. This detail allows the process to spread much faster into the tooth.

Caries of primary front teeth

Most often, caries of baby teeth in small children begins with the process of damage to the front teeth, since they are the ones that come into contact with milk formulas and sweet foods to the greatest extent. This type of caries is called "bottle caries" because a small child mainly receives food through a bottle. Bottle caries is a rather serious problem, because as a result of rapid progression, both in its spread and depth, this pathological process can affect even neighboring teeth.

Caries of baby front teeth forms dark spots on the tooth enamel, which are visible during a visual examination of the child's oral cavity. Usually, a dentist checks the baby's front teeth for caries by backlighting them. To clarify the clinical diagnosis of "caries of the front teeth", probing of the enamel is carried out, and with the help of the results of targeted radiographic tests, it is possible to determine the depth of carious damage to the baby teeth. If the disease is in its initial stage, then fluoridation must be used for therapeutic purposes, as well as changing the child's eating habits and improving hygiene procedures for oral care.

In more advanced stages of caries of primary front teeth, it is suggested to treat the child under intravenous anesthesia. In this case, the process of restoration of the front primary teeth includes the use of glass ionomer materials, as well as a filling material intended for the restoration of the damaged tooth.

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Initial caries of milk teeth

Initial caries of baby teeth manifests itself in two stages: first, the so-called "spot stage" is observed, and then the stage of superficial carious lesion of the tooth develops. The occurrence of caries "in the spot stage" is associated with the appearance of white chalky spots on the baby's teeth (usually on the upper incisors) - they are of different sizes and shapes. The child does not yet feel pain. Carious spots without certain clear boundaries grow over time and form the so-called "cavities". Thus, initial caries from the first stage gradually develops into its other stage - superficial lesion of the tooth. Sometimes this process is determined by such signs as softening of the tooth enamel, the appearance of roughness on the surface of the carious spot, increased sensitivity of the teeth when the child eats salty, sweet or sour, as well as hot or cold food.

It is necessary to be able to distinguish initial caries of baby teeth from other diseases, for example, fluorosis or enamel hypoplasia. To establish a clinical diagnosis, a stomatoscopy is performed in special ultraviolet lighting. If the tooth is damaged by caries, then the tissues do not glow; the tissues of a healthy tooth give a light green glow, and if the child has enamel hypoplasia, it is gray-green. Another method allows you to establish the presence of a carious process at an early stage: for this, the tooth tissues are moistened in an aqueous solution of methylene blue (2%) and a solution of methylene red (1%). To do this, the enamel surface, previously cleaned of plaque, is dried, and then a dye solution is applied to it. After a couple of minutes, the demineralized areas of the tooth are stained, having varying intensity.

Deep caries of baby teeth

Caries of baby teeth develops gradually, affecting the dental tissues ever deeper. With deep caries, the destruction of the main mass of dentin is observed. At the same time, only a thin layer separates the pulp from the carious cavity. The child often complains of severe pain when eating cold or hot food.

It should be noted that deep caries of baby teeth is a particularly serious disease that develops rapidly and in most cases turns into inflammation of the dental pulp. Diagnosis of deep caries in children includes, first of all, studying the condition of the pulp. The results of the diagnosis directly affect the choice of treatment. This can be either a session with the installation of a medicated pad, or treatment using antibiotics and corticosteroids. Often in such cases, filling of the affected tooth with the application of odontotropic pastes under the filling is used.

There are cases when the condition of the pulp in case of deep caries cannot be determined, then a control filling in the form of burnt asbestos is used, which is left in the carious cavity after its careful treatment. If the child does not experience any pain within a week, the cavity is subject to filling. Odontotropic paste is applied to its bottom. Unfortunately, caries of baby teeth in the deep stage in children is quite common. The main thing in this matter is to prevent its complications in time.

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Circular caries of primary teeth

Circular caries of primary teeth usually develops in children with weakened immunity: primarily, premature babies, those suffering from rickets, tuberculosis, etc. This type of caries also occurs in children who have had infectious diseases (measles, scarlet fever, sore throat, tonsillitis, etc.). In this case, the upper frontal teeth are mainly affected.

In the initial stage, circular caries covers the frontal surface of the baby tooth, namely the area of its neck, and then spreads throughout the crown of the tooth and penetrates deep. Naturally, under the influence of the pathological process, the crown of the tooth is destroyed and broken. Caries affects the pulp, so most often during a dental examination, a picture of the destruction of the dental crown is observed. Usually, the death of the pulp is asymptomatic, and only an X-ray shows an advanced process of chronic granulating periodontitis.

Circular caries of primary teeth very often occurs without the presence of an inflammatory reaction to the pathological process, which indicates a low level of child immunity. Timely remineralizing therapy gives an effect when the root pulp is isolated from the crown pulp with the help of replacement dentin. Of course, therapeutic manipulations, first of all, should be aimed at improving the child's well-being. Initial damage to teeth with circular caries is treated with remineralization therapy, deeper ones - with filling.

Children with varying degrees of caries should be observed in a dispensary. Dispensary care helps to identify the initial stage of circular caries in time, as well as to apply preventive measures for the development of complications.

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Should caries in baby teeth be treated?

Quite often, adults do not know whether to treat caries of baby teeth in their children. Parents of a child whose teeth have erupted should remember that caries of baby teeth can develop almost asymptomatically and unnoticed over a long period of time. This indicates the special importance of regular examination of the child by a dentist.

If childhood caries is not treated at all, this disease can cause a number of serious complications. First of all, it is necessary to note the damage to the deep tissues of the carious tooth, and in the future - the development of periodontitis (the process of inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth), as well as pulpitis (the process of inflammation of the soft dental tissues). This is due to the fact that the enamel of baby teeth is much thinner than the enamel of an adult's teeth. Thus, baby teeth are much more susceptible to the negative effects of pathogenic microflora and destruction. That is why it is imperative to treat caries of baby teeth, in no case postponing this problem "until tomorrow".

Complications caused by caries in a child indicate a lack of responsibility and due attention of the father and mother to the health of the baby. Untimely treatment of childhood caries or its complete absence is the main factor leading to the need to remove the affected baby teeth. This phenomenon is negative in itself, since a baby tooth removed untimely is the cause of various diseases, as well as future pathologies in the development of a permanent tooth. The need to remove a baby tooth destroyed as a result of deep caries leads to the installation of a special prosthesis in its place, which excludes the development of dentoalveolar anomalies in the child in the future. Of course, it is best to prevent such a situation, because the installation of a prosthesis is a very uncomfortable procedure for a small child.

Preventing the development of caries through preventive measures and effective treatment methods at the initial stages is the best way to solve this problem. It is important to remember that the health of the child's entire body depends on the health of the teeth as a whole.

What to do if baby teeth have caries?

Caries of baby teeth is a rapid spread of bacterial infection in the oral cavity, developing against the background of a decrease in the resistance of the child's body.

What to do with caries of baby teeth? In general, the appearance of caries is directly related to cariogenic streptococcal microflora, which multiplies in the child's oral cavity literally at lightning speed, especially in weakened children. At the first suspicion of the presence of caries of baby teeth in a child, it is necessary, without delay, to seek help from a pediatric dentist, who will promptly prescribe a course of treatment. After all, caries is, first of all, a source of a spreading pathogenic infection, which can cause the occurrence of various diseases of the baby's internal organs.

Complications caused by the development of early caries can lead to complete destruction and even death of the rudiments of permanent teeth. It is necessary to remember that caries of baby teeth can develop very quickly and most often - asymptomatically. At the same time, a damaged baby tooth may not hurt at all and not cause any discomfort to the baby. This is explained, first of all, by the absence of nerve endings in the baby tooth.

Modern medicine today, in order to prevent the development of childhood caries in a timely manner, uses various preventive measures, in particular, three-fold coating of healthy baby teeth with fluoride varnish. This procedure is carried out at intervals of six months. During the period of appearance of permanent teeth in a child, it is recommended to carry out another procedure - called "fissure sealing", which gives very effective results and prevents the development of carious processes in 90%.

How to stop caries in baby teeth?

Today, caries of baby teeth is observed in almost every child, so there is an urgent need to stop the process of infection development as quickly as possible. Modern medicine knows how to stop caries of baby teeth and uses several well-proven methods for this purpose, in particular silvering of teeth. The procedure consists of covering baby teeth with a special solution that contains silver nitrate. This substance has a strong bactericidal effect and the ability to stop the process of exposure of pathogenic microbes to tooth enamel.

The procedure of silvering baby teeth does not require the use of drills, is carried out quite quickly and is absolutely painless for the child. In addition, this method of preventing caries is safe for the baby and does not cause allergic reactions or food poisoning. Usually, the silvering procedure is prescribed to children with the initial stage of caries associated with the appearance of dark spots on the tooth enamel. This method favors the preservation of baby teeth until they are replaced by permanent ones. The disadvantage of silvering children's teeth is the visual effect: usually such teeth acquire a black color. The use of silvering in case of deep damage to the tooth with the formation of carious cavities will not bring the desired result. On the contrary, this procedure in this case can simply harm the baby, since silver nitrate, consisting of nitric acid of silver metal salt, can cause a burn of the dental nerve. In turn, the child will be in great pain.

Caries of baby teeth should be treated exclusively under the supervision of a pediatric dentist, using professional equipment. In addition to silvering, which is currently under debate, there are no less effective ways to stop childhood caries. Among them, the most popular are mineralization (i.e. deep fluoridation of teeth) and ozonation (the so-called disinfection of the oral cavity). Which of these methods will be most effective in a particular case is decided by a specialist.

Treatment of caries of a baby tooth

Modern medicine has various alternative methods of treating caries in baby teeth. They are aimed at eliminating all the unpleasant moments associated with treatment, in particular, the treatment of a damaged tooth with a dental drill.

Caries of baby teeth is treated using methods that include the treatment of carious cavities with special chemicals and hand tools. Recently, laser dental units have also appeared, the work of which is aimed at treating caries of baby teeth. Unfortunately, so far none of the alternative methods of caries treatment gives such an effective result as the use of a time-tested drill in this process. When treating childhood caries using professional dental equipment, several stages can be distinguished.

First, the affected baby tooth undergoes thorough cleaning from demineralized, softened tissues infected with bacteria. Then, the baby tooth is sterilized, and the carious cavity is hermetically sealed with special materials. Thus, the treated baby tooth will be able to serve until the child has a permanent tooth. This is the main goal of pediatric dentistry.

The decision to treat or remove a baby tooth is made by the dentist, who, based on personal experience, determines the best option taking into account the specific situation. It is especially important to make the right decision if the child does not feel pain, because treated baby teeth, like diseased ones, will fall out sooner or later. Therefore, filling itself in most cases does not bring much benefit, but this process causes fear and discomfort in the child.

When observing the first signs of caries development in a child, it is necessary to immediately contact a pediatric dentist. It is important for parents to understand the fact that caries can only be cured at the stage of the "white spot" formation. For this purpose, the child is prescribed vitamins (B1, B6, A, D, C), as well as calcium and phosphorus preparations (Calcium Gluconate, Calcitonin, Sibacalcin, etc.).

Regarding folk methods aimed at treating caries of a baby tooth, it is necessary to take into account the fact that folk remedies in such cases are used only for preventive purposes. They are not able to completely cure caries. Prevention of caries with the help of folk remedies mainly comes down to rinsing the child's mouth with decoctions of medicinal plants and taking herbal infusions internally. Such prevention can be carried out at home, while treatment (in particular, filling) of baby teeth is possible only in a medical institution and is carried out by a qualified specialist. Among the folk medicine recipes aimed at relieving pain from a carious tooth, the following can be distinguished:

• You need to put a pea-sized amount of propolis on the aching tooth and cover the area with a cotton swab for 20 minutes. Propolis has pain-relieving properties, but it can destroy the tooth, so you should not use it for a long time.
• To temporarily relieve pain, apply a cotton ball soaked in garlic juice to the tooth affected by caries.
• To rinse a child's mouth, use an infusion of sage or chamomile: add 1 tablespoon of the medicinal herb to a glass of boiling water and let it brew for 1 hour.

According to recommendations of pediatric dentists, parents should show their child to doctors starting from the age of one year, at least once every six months. In this way, it is possible to control the development of the baby, as well as to prevent caries of baby teeth in a timely manner.

Prevention of caries in baby teeth

Caries of baby teeth can develop in children, starting from their earliest age. Preventive measures to prevent this pathological process are advisable to carry out together with the eruption of the first baby teeth.

Using special oral care products, it is necessary to regularly remove plaque and food debris from baby's milk teeth. Such products primarily include a regular toothbrush. The use of children's toothpaste is recommended for children starting from the age of one. This is the main prevention of milk tooth decay. An important factor is the compliance of the toothpaste composition with the child's age. This is primarily indicated by the information on the packaging. For example, it is better not to buy a fluoride toothpaste for a child under three years of age. Small children are not able to properly brush their teeth and rinse their mouth, they often swallow a large amount of toothpaste. Regular swallowing of fluoride toothpaste by a child can later cause serious consequences and thereby undermine the baby's health, since fluoride is an active element.

From the age of four, children partially master the skills of brushing their teeth; they can spit out the remains of toothpaste and, thus, can use toothpaste with fluoride for prevention - a substance that reduces the risk of occurrence and development of caries in baby teeth.

As for the choice of toothbrushes, at first the mother should learn to carefully remove plaque from the child's teeth using a special finger brush. Parents need to teach the child to brush their teeth independently as early as possible - starting from the age of 2.5-3 years.

In addition to using toothpaste and a toothbrush, preventive measures to prevent the development of childhood caries include a balanced diet for the child. Such a diet should include sufficient amounts of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, as well as minerals and vitamins necessary for the full formation and development of dental tissue.

Breastfeeding is one of the most important aspects of preventing caries in baby teeth. Older children should be given fluoridated salt and water, for which there are no special indications. Additional sources of calcium are primarily fermented milk products, potatoes, cheese, cottage cheese, legumes, and mineral water.