As parents, you are always worried and anxious about your children, even more than yourselves. Tooth decay in kids can be a serious matter of concern for parents. There are some risk factors which, if avoided or brought under control, can reduce the chances of tooth decay.  

Generally, babies or kids who are fed with milk, infant formula or sweet juices at night during sleep are at a greater risk of developing tooth decay. Infant formula or juices are loaded with artificial sweeteners which make the oral cavity a congenial environment for oral cariogenic bacteria to thrive in. The salivary flow is also reduced at night, so the natural flushing mechanism is also at its minimum level at this time. Therefore, try to avoid feeding your kid with such products before they go to sleep at night. You can expect your kid to suffer with tooth decay if you do not take care of his/her oral hygiene. When a severe type of tooth decay is caused by bottle feeding, it is called “baby bottle syndrome” or “baby bottle tooth decay”.

Kids are not born with decay-causing bacteria in their mouths. They may acquire them from you if you have dental caries, and if the utensils you use for yourself are also brought in use for them. You must ensure that your utensils are not mixed with those of your kids. Some reports have mentioned that the bacterial transfer can take place by coming in direct contact in activities like kissing. In short, if your oral hygiene is well-maintained, your kid will also be on the safer side.

According to recent studies, tooth decay has been found to be associated with heredity. Some individuals are more prone to dental decay than others. This is mainly due to the defective tooth structure which has less inorganic (hard mineral) content. Defects in enamel formation can also increase the tendency to dental caries. When the outer protective layer of enamel has anatomical or morphological defects, the tooth becomes brittle and fractures off under mild to moderate stresses. If your teeth show a higher tendency for dental decay, or if any of your family members have encountered the same problem, you must bear in mind that your kid is likely to suffer the same dental problems. An early intervention can retard or completely stop the disease process.

Is your kid going to suffer from tooth decay? Even if you practice all the correct oral hygiene measures for your kid, you may have this doubt in your mind. It is always a better idea to get your doubts clarified by taking your child to a dentist. A complete dental check-up conducted routinely and frequently (every six months) can prevent your kid from getting tooth decay. Periodic dental check-up is especially important as far as the kids are concerned, because they are not able to express their feelings or pain most of the time. If they have toothache they may not be able to communicate to the parents about their pain or soreness, so for children prevention is always better than cure.

Contact a dentist or dental hygienist at Water Brook Dental in Washington DC for a dental check-up and other dental needs. Water Brook Dental has two locations in Washington DC. The Columbia Heights location is very  conveniently located to Downtown DC, Northeast DC, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, U-Street Corridor, Mount Pleasant and many other parts of Washington. The Eastern Ave NW location is conveniently located to Downtown Silver Spring, Takoma Park MD, Silver Spring MD, Colesville, and other parts of Maryland as well as Northern Virginia and other parts of Virginia.