According to the first-ever US Surgeon General’s report on oral health published in May 2000, dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, is the “single most common childhood disease“.
It is five times more common than asthma, and seven times more common than hay fever.
It is also the most prevalent unmet health need among children in developed countries.
Today, experts agree that dental caries is an infectious and transmissible disease which has a multitude of factors influencing its initiation and progression. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that it is also a disease that is both preventable and treatable.
Early childhood caries is a more infectious and destructive form of tooth decay that is recognised by both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, as a significant health problem. Formerly termed ‘nursing bottle caries’ or ‘baby bottle tooth decay’, the cause of early childhood caries is much more complex and multifactoral making these terms obsolete.
How?
How does a child acquire dental caries?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recognises dental caries as an “infectious disease” whose mode of transmission is, for the most part, directly from the mother (or primary caregiver) to the infant soon after birth and by almost anything that involves saliva transfer.
This would include kissing baby on the mouth, pre-chewing food, orally cleansing or blowing on a pacifier, sharing utensils or cups, etc.
Transmission from siblings or other children at daycare can also occur in similar ways. The bacteria primarily responsible for dental caries is Mutans Streptococci.
The higher the levels of Mutans Streptococci in parents, siblings, or primary caregivers, such as helpers or nannies, the greater the risk of transmission to the infant. It is therefore of the utmost importance that all members of the family receive timely dental care and practice good oral hygiene.
First checkup
When should my child’s first dental visit be? First visit by first birthday sums it up.
Dental problems can begin as soon as the first tooth erupts. Also, there are many other potential problems such as neonatal teeth, feeding/dietary habits, and growth and development concerns that require early detection and intervention.
This, in conjunction with the highly destructive and progressive nature of early childhood caries, has lead to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s position statement that “your child’s first visit to the dental office should be soon after the eruption of the first primary teeth (typically 6-12 months of age) and no later than their first birthday”.
With regards to early childhood caries, by the age of two, the destruction of the primary teeth is often complete, leading to what could have been an avoidable amount of pain and suffering for your child, premature loss of teeth, and subsequent space loss and crowding that may then require orthodontic interventions.
So remember, prevention is key. Establish a ‘Dental Home’ for your child by the age of one.
Sean Childers is a local dentist who is board-certified in paediatric dentistry.
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