{"id":1173,"date":"2022-04-25T20:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T20:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/?p=1173"},"modified":"2024-10-31T22:07:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T22:07:52","slug":"how-the-decay-of-baby-teeth-affects-adult-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/2022\/04\/how-the-decay-of-baby-teeth-affects-adult-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Decay of Baby Teeth Affects Adult Teeth"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do we grow baby teeth?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our teeth have more than one job. One may think that we have teeth purely to chew our food, but there is so much more! Baby teeth help us with speech development, smiling, and act as a placeholder for our adult teeth as our jaws grow and take shape.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teeth don\u2019t grow like hair or nails, so once they are fully formed there is no changing them. A full set of 32 adult teeth are just too big for a child&#8217;s jaw. That&#8217;s why we need two sets of teeth to accommodate the change in our jaw sizes over time without hampering our ability to use them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both sets of teeth are incredibly important and that&#8217;s why you need to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistryforkids.info\/2022\/02\/top-resources-tips-for-teaching-your-toddler-how-to-brush\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">establish good dental habits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from early on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do I tell if my child is experiencing tooth decay?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes you\u2019re unable to see very apparent signs of tooth decay until it\u2019s too late, so it\u2019s important to schedule regular check ups for your infant. Here are some visible signs of tooth decay that warrant a speedy visit to the dentist:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White spots begin to form on the teeth along the gum line&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brown or black discoloration of the teeth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pain in the area around the tooth<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistryforkids.info\/2022\/02\/tooth-sensitivity-in-kids-causes-what-to-do-about-it\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sensitivity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to certain foods, such as sweets and hot or cold drinks<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general if you\u2019re noticing any abnormalities in your child&#8217;s teeth it\u2019s best to get them checked by a professional to handle any preventable further damage.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How does the decay of baby teeth affect adult teeth?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bacterial content of a mouth full of cavities and decay is very high. When the new permanent <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">teeth start to come in by the age of 6, the existing bacteria invades them, leading to cavities in the young permanent teeth coming in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If untreated, decay from baby teeth can <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">progress deeper into and through the root canals into the underlying bone. This may cause an acidic environment around the developing permanent tooth; the body&#8217;s response varies depending on the age of the child and status of development of the erupting permanent tooth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is the possibility of abscess formations on the gums, decay progression, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">discoloration, malformations and permanent staining of the adult tooth.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How do I help prevent tooth decay with my child?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tooth decay is preventable, as most decay is a result of poor dental hygiene and diet. Here are a few steps you can take to help prevent tooth decay in your child:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create Healthy Routines<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As soon as your child&#8217;s first tooth appears, it\u2019s important to start a brushing routine. Brush your child&#8217;s tooth\/teeth, tongue, and gums twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your child is old enough to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistryforkids.info\/2021\/02\/4-parenting-tips-to-help-your-child-brush-their-teeth\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">brush their teeth themselves<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, take the time to ensure they are doing it properly. After the age of two is a good time to start incorporating flossing into your child&#8217;s teeth routine.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use Products with Fluoride<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/druginfo\/meds\/a682727.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fluoride<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is used to prevent tooth decay. It helps to strengthen teeth, resist acid, and block the cavity-forming action of bacteria. Thankfully, most <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/idph.iowa.gov\/ohds\/Water-Fluoridation-Operations#:~:text=2019%20data%20shows%20that%2090.2,level%20being%200.70mg%2FL.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">homes in Iowa have regular exposure to fluoride<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in their tap water. Fluoride supplements are usually prescribed for children and adults whose homes have water that has little to no fluoride, but for most, consciously using toothpaste and mouthwash that contains fluoride is enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain a Well-Balanced Diet<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure your child eats a well-balanced diet. Limit snacks that are sticky and high in sugars, such as chips, candy, cookies, and cake.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200b\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you consume sugar, it immediately begins interacting with the plaque bacteria to produce acid. The acid then dissolves your enamel slowly, creating the decay in your teeth. Limiting the amount of sugar and acid in your diet is a best practice for not only your teeth but overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid Sugary Drinks Before Bed<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your child uses a bottle at bedtime, only put water in it. Juice or formula contain sugars that can lead to tooth decay. Ever heard of bottle rot?&nbsp; Letting those sugars sit on your child&#8217;s gums is best to avoid if possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schedule a Visit with Us<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scheduling routine dental cleanings and exams for your child is the best way to stay on top of their dental health. Already see signs of decay? <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistryforkids.info\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schedule an appointment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with our team and let\u2019s get your child back to their best self.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why do we grow baby teeth?<br \/>\nOur teeth have more than one job. One may think that we have teeth purely to chew our food, but there is so much more! [ <a href=\"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/2022\/04\/how-the-decay-of-baby-teeth-affects-adult-teeth\/\">more <i class=\"fas fa-chevron-circle-right\"><\/i><\/a> ]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1545,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"How the Decay of Baby Teeth Affects Adult Teeth Long-Term","_seopress_titles_desc":"Read to learn the signs of tooth decay, how the decay of baby teeth can impact adult teeth, and how to prevent tooth decay through healthy habits.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1173"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1177,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173\/revisions\/1177"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dentistryforkids.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}