Cavities & Baby Teeth


 A cavity on a baby tooth may seem like an insignificant item that can wait for treatment. But that’s not
 true. “Did you know decay can spread from baby teeth to your child’s permanent teeth?” asks pediatric dentist Dr. Cameron Fuller.  He finds a significant number of parents that have never been educated on the importance of taking care of cavities in baby teeth.
“Even though baby teeth are going to fall out, they are setting the stage for your daughter or son’s permanent teeth, and severe decay can impact their overall health,” says Dr. Fuller. For example, your child’s cavity, if not taken care of, can develop into an abscess. An abscess is a collection of pus that pools in the tooth. It can cause severe swelling and infection. An infection that is not treated can end up spreading throughout the body and can cause severe pain. The unfortunate consequences are missed work for you and missed school days for them.
A child’s smile also impacts their self-esteem. As your children get older and go to school they may become self-conscious if their teeth are decayed or have cavities in them that have not been fixed.  Their smile is the first thing that other individuals see. If it is riddled with decay other children may make fun of them impacting your child’s sense of worth. A secondary problem in their education may develop because the new standards require that students are constantly discussing their ideas and information with classmates. This constant peer interaction puts an extra pressure on students who are self-conscious about communicating with peers.
Dr. Fuller recommends taking care of cavities as soon as possible. The treatment is relatively easy and painless if caught early.

Comments

  1. UnknownDecember 4, 2014 at 8:00 AM

    My poor little niece is suffering from the side effects of "bottle mouth". I guess if an infant sleeps with a bottle that has milk in it, it can give the child cavity's, as well as make his or her teeth brittle over time. I wish that we had known sooner; now all we can do is have her teeth fixed.
    Cynthia | http://www.alldaydentistry.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownDecember 7, 2014 at 7:30 PM

      Hello Cynthia, that is too bad. However, now that you know you can make positive changes in the right direction.

      Delete

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