Ask an Expert: How is it that my 4 year-old has five cavities?
EdNews Parent | Dr. Elizabeth Shick
Q. I just brought my 4-year-old son in for his first dental visit. We’ve been pretty good about brushing his teeth at least once a day. And he doesn’t eat a lot of sweets. He had five cavities! What can we do to make sure this doesn’t happen again?
A. It can be tough on parents of young children when they bring their child to the dentist only to learn that they already have a cavity. As a dentist I often have to pass this not-so-good news on to parents. I remind them that it doesn’t mean they’re a bad parent, they just have to learn the tools and skills to prevent cavities. I tell them not to look back, but to look forward and see how we can prevent their child from getting more cavities in the future. You can hit the reset button to get back on track with good oral health habits anytime.
In order to understand how it’s possible that cavities are nearly 100 percent preventable, let’s go back to how they start in the first place. Bacteria in the mouth called Streptococcus Mutans (MS), is primarily responsible for cavities. This bacteria colonizes and grows in everyone’s mouth at some point and it is usually acquired from a caregiver as an infant.
Getting exposed to the MS bacteria is the first turning point in children’s oral health. The bacteria is transferred from a caregiver, usually mom, via the sharing of utensils or cups, or transfer of saliva. The goal is to delay the transmission of the bacteria as long as possible. So how do we do that? First, it’s helpful if caregivers have clean healthy mouths themselves which includes regular visits to the dentist, daily flossing and twice daily brushing. Second, before your baby has any teeth, clean your infant’s mouth by wiping the gums, cheeks and tongue with a clean wet cloth after feedings. This super simple trick wipes bacteria away from the areas where little teeth are soon to appear.
