Tooth Decay

There has been a lot of talk about tooth decay in the news recently with the shock report from Public Health England earlier this month revealing that 1 in 8 of all British three year old’s suffer from tooth decay.

We have produced this useful short guide to children’s tooth decay so you know the facts.

What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay is a common problem that occurs when acids in the mouth dissolve the outer layers of the teeth. It is caused by consuming too many sugary foods and drinks too frequently. It is important to address these lifestyle issues at a young age to reduce the risk of further tooth decay happening in permanent adult teeth.

What are the symptoms?

Often tooth decay does not cause any symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. As the problem develops symptoms will appear including:

- Toothache

- Tooth sensitivity when eating something hot, cold or sweet

- Black spots appearing on the teeth

- Bad breath

- An unpleasant taste in the mouth

What causes tooth decay?

Tooth decay is the result of 2 factors: High frequency of sugary foods and drinks combined with bacteria in the mouth.

Here’s an overview of what happens: Bacteria combined with small food particles and saliva form a sticky film known a plaque. Every time you eat or drink anything containing sugars or carbohydrates, the bacteria react and form acid. The acid attacks the teeth and starts to dissolve the tooth enamel. The attack can last for an hour after eating or drinking, before the natural salts in your saliva cause the enamel to ‘remineralise’ and harden again. Over time if the plaque is allowed to build up, the acid will break down the outer surface of the tooth and will reach the soft part at the centre of the tooth. This process will cause a hole in the tooth, known as a cavity which may result in requiring a filling, or worse the removal of the tooth.

Can baby teeth be treated for tooth decay? 

Yes but treatment of decay in toddlers is difficult because of their limited understanding and attention span – it is far better to prevent it rather than treat it.

The main misconception we find is that parents are not aware of the importance of baby teeth thinking that these teeth are only temporary. It is not uncommon for us to hear of fizzy pop such as Coca-Cola being put into baby bottles.

Mistreating baby teeth has a detrimental effect on long-term oral health. Baby teeth are important for providing a place for permanent teeth to erupt into, for chewing and for speaking clearly.

If tooth decay is detected at the early stages, fluoride varnish can be applied to stop further decay. If tooth decay is severe, sadly it may result in the tooth or teeth being extracted which can be a traumatic experience for any child and parent.

Know how and when to brush – Brush teeth, twice a day once in the morning and once before bedtime with a toothpaste containing fluoride:

- Up to the age of three: use a smear of toothpaste containing 1000ppm fluoride

- Age three and over: Use a pea sized amount of toothpaste containing 1450ppm fluoride

There are also things that a dentist, dental therapist or hygienist can do to further protect children’s teeth from decay:

• Fluoride varnish application

Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth. The process involves painting a varnish containing high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth every six months to prevent decay. This works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.

• Fissure sealants

Fissure sealants can be done once a child’s permanent back teeth have started to come through (usually at the age of about six or seven) to protect them from decay. This is where the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are covered with a special thin plastic coating to keep germs and food particles out of the grooves. The sealant can last for as long as 5 to 10 years.

Please speak to your dentist about the options.

How can I prevent tooth decay?

The good news is that tooth decay is entirely preventable hence the importance of educating children at an early age of the importance of both a healthy diet and of tooth brushing.

To keep children’s teeth healthy, Public Health England is encouraging parents and carers of young children to:

• Reduce the frequency and amount of sugary foods and drinks consumed.
• Sugar should not be added to the weaning foods or drinks.
• Aim to introduce drinking from a free-flow cup from 6 months of age and stop feeding from a bottle from 12 months of age.
• Start brushing children’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears and supervise their tooth brushing until they are 7 or 8 years old. Brush children’s teeth twice a day, including just before bed using fluoride toothpaste.
• From the age of 3, use only a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, for younger children a smear.
• Use only sugar free medicines.

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