Oral Care for Babies May Help Prevent Cavities
Though babies won’t visit the dentist in Eagle Rock CA until they have teeth, parents should begin oral care at home much sooner.
While the importance of early dental care for kids is common knowledge, some parents might be surprised to discover that kids’ dental care should actually begin before they have any teeth at all. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends wiping the gums of infants without teeth as a means of promoting oral health in babies, and recent research suggests that this practice might very well help reduce the occurrence of childhood cavities and the need for fillings from the dentist in Eagle Rock CA later on.
Early Childhood Caries Bacteria Found in Infant Saliva
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois found that bacteria associated with Early Childhood Caries (ECC) were already present in the mouths of babies long before their first tooth appeared. ECC is considered a virulent form of dental caries, aka tooth decay, and is the single most common infectious disease affecting children in this country. The study utilized DNA technologies to analyze hundreds of strains of bacteria that contribute to the formation of biofilm on teeth and gums, which in turn can cause cavities. Researchers discovered that the infant oral bacterial community is much more diverse and well-developed at a younger age than previously thought.
Early Oral Care May Help
Prior to the study, the scientific community considered the “window of infectivity” for ECC in infants to occur between 19 and 33 months of age. Now, it is clear that children may be at risk at a younger age. Because the soft tissues in the mouth can serve as reservoirs for ECC bacteria, researchers believe that manipulating the bacterial community in infants through measures such as wiping gums clean with a soft cloth and limiting the intake of sugary drinks and snacks can help keep ECC bacteria in check and reduce kids’ risk for cavities once they do have teeth. Additional research will be needed to prove this hypothesis conclusively.
At-Risk Populations Should Take Special Care
About 40 percent of children have had a cavity by the time they reach kindergarten. For children who eat high-sugar diets and/or come from families of low socioeconomic status where parents lack education, the risk of cavities is 32 percent higher. It is especially important for the parents of children who have these risk factors to begin oral care early and make a point of taking their child to the dentist in Eagle Rock CA regularly in order to have the best chance of limiting the damage done by Early Childhood Caries.
