What happens if you don’t fix cavities in baby teeth?
Teeth are damaged by the presence of dental plaque which contains harmful decay-causing bacteria. Tooth decay can lead to cavities (dental caries) when enamel, the outermost layer of the teeth, starts to break down, leaving behind holes in the teeth. Decayed teeth are often roughened, blackened and unsightly, which may impact your child’s appearance and make them less confident.
Aesthetics aside, cavities in baby teeth can result in the following problems:
Oral health problems
Untreated cavities have the potential to lead to infection, resulting in significant pain and even emotional distress. Often, I find that this negatively impacts the child’s eating and sleeping habits as well as overall health; studies have also shown the link between childhood cavities, malnutrition and eating disorders.
If you find your little one acting out more than usual or refusing to eat, it is possible he/she could be experiencing pain from tooth decay.
Damage to permanent teeth
What starts out as an infection may progress into an abscess, a pus-filled “pimple”-like bubble, which can be very painful. On top of that, it may interfere with or worse still stop the development of the permanent tooth below, delay its eruption or even prevent it from erupting at all. Other possible problems that the succeeding permanent teeth may encounter are permanent discolouration and/or malformations.
Orthodontic problems
If there is early loss of a baby tooth, orthodontic issues may arise. Neighbouring teeth may shift to fill the empty space, which could then pose a problem when it is time for the adult teeth to grow out. The permanent teeth in that area may be misaligned and/or crowded out if the space at the resulting area is insufficient, which can further cause the other teeth to become crooked too. In order to correct the alignment and bite of the permanent teeth, more costly treatments such as braces or Invisalign may be needed.
How do I look out for tooth decay in baby teeth?
Common signs and symptoms of tooth decay in baby teeth include:
- Dark or brown spots on teeth
- Holes in teeth, possibly with food debris stuck within
- Pain pertaining to the teeth
- Swelling around the teeth
- “Pimple”-like an abscess on the gum above the teeth
- Bad breath
If you notice any of these signs and symptoms, or if your child is suddenly having problems eating and/or sleeping, visit a paediatric dentist straight away!
How do I keep baby teeth healthy?
Make sure your child brushes his/her teeth well twice a day. I recommend using fluoridated toothpaste, but using the right fluoride toothpaste and the right amounts of it is crucial! Our previous article on whether fluoride toothpaste is safe for children can tell you more.
Next, avoid consuming too many sweets and bring them to the dentist regularly for check-ups and routine cleaning. It is a common misconception that we should only see the dentist if there’s a problem, but we prefer to avoid doing this so we do not scare the little ones at each dental visit. I recommend regular dental visits from the age of 1 or when primary teeth start to erupt.
Generally speaking, as long as your child maintains good oral hygiene and goes for scheduled dental visits, their baby teeth should be just fine!
Do you have a question for me regarding paediatric dentistry? Feel free to ask away, I am more than happy to answer them!
References
- Mark, A. M. (2020). Helping your child fight tooth decay. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 151(2), 154.
- Zou, J., Meng, M., Law, C. S., Rao, Y., & Zhou, X. (2018). Common dental diseases in children and malocclusion. International journal of oral science, 10(1), 1-7.
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