Caries of milk teeth: the roots of the problem and treatment options. Causes, treatment and prevention of caries of milk teeth in children Why do children have caries on milk teeth

The biggest misconception of parents is that if you do not eat sweets, then caries does not threaten the baby's milk teeth. But in addition to the abuse of sweets, chocolate and other sweet foods, caries has a number of other reasons:

Improper oral hygiene in young children. Milk teeth immediately after eruption need proper care. Many parents neglect this fact, which causes the accumulation of plaque on the enamel. Since the teeth of the baby are not quite “mature” and the mineralization processes continue for 2-3 years after their appearance, caries develops quickly, while affecting almost the entire tooth.
Infection with pathogenic microorganisms that occurs if a child eats from the same spoon with an adult who has carious teeth in his mouth.
Genetic predisposition and violation of the formation of tooth enamel during fetal development under the influence of smoking and drugs that the mother took during pregnancy.
Early caries, which appears before the age of 2, can be caused by the child taking medications that adversely affect enamel, as well as a lack of fluorine and calcium in food.
Long-term drinking by a child of sweet drinks through the nipple leads to the formation of bottle caries with damage to all front teeth.

Types of caries in children

There are several classifications of the carious process in children, which reflect its localization, depth and intensity.

Depending on which teeth are affected, there is caries:

Milk teeth - can appear even in infants immediately after teething.
Permanent teeth - occurs in children older than 5 years, after the change of temporary teeth has begun.

Depending on the depth of caries spread:

Spot - initial caries, represents the first stage in the development of the pathological process, which has not yet affected the anatomical structures of tooth enamel. It is treated with minimal intervention and is easily reversed.
Superficial caries of enamel - damage to dental tissues has not gone beyond the enamel.
Medium caries is the destruction of not only the entire layer of enamel, but also part of the dentin tissues.
Deep caries is the most difficult variant of the disease, when the pathological process affects the entire thickness of the tooth and almost reaches the pulp.

According to the primacy of the carious process on the teeth, there are such types:

Primary caries that appears on previously unaffected teeth.
Secondary caries, in which there is a recurrence of the disease with a lesion of a tooth that has already been treated. Sometimes the pathological focus is localized under the filling and is not visible to the eye, in which case caries is called internal.

Depending on how quickly the disease develops, caries is classified:

Compensated - the progression of the disease is extremely slow or even stops.
Subcompensated - the development of caries occurs quite slowly and parents do not notice its presence in a child for a long time.
Decompensated or the most acute - the destruction of dental tissues occurs very quickly and is accompanied by violent symptoms: pain, inability to chew. This form of caries requires emergency treatment.

Depending on the localization of the carious process, there is caries:

Fissure, which develops in places of natural depressions on the surfaces of the teeth.
Approximal, when the contacting surfaces of the antagonist teeth are subjected to carious destruction.
Cervical with localization at the point of contact of the crown of the tooth with the gum.
Circular, affecting the dental tissues around the entire perimeter in the gum area.

According to the number of affected teeth, caries can be:

Solitary - a single tooth is involved in the pathological process.
Multiple - several milk teeth are affected by the disease.
Generalized - carious foci are present on most teeth.

Symptoms in children

Despite the fact that the signs of the disease are very specific, parents do not always know what caries looks like and how to recognize it in children.

The symptoms of the disease depend on the depth of damage to the dental tissues.

With initial caries, white spots of various shapes and sizes appear on the surface of the enamel, which do not cause any discomfort in the child. Over time, such formations begin to change their color - they become brown, brown or even black. This indicates the progression of the disease.
With superficial caries, the cavity does not extend beyond the enamel and may be light or dark in color. Already at this stage, children notice the appearance of pain when eating sweets or sour foods.
With an average caries, as the pathological cavity deepens, soreness joins the early symptoms when the teeth come into contact with cold or hot food. A deep cavity is defined on the tooth surface, in which food debris can accumulate. Often there is an unpleasant smell from the mouth of the child.
With a deep process and the addition of pulpitis, the child will complain of intense pain, aggravated by eating. At this stage, the general condition of the baby may suffer with the appearance of weakness, nausea, or a rise in temperature. The tooth is subjected to significant destruction and cannot perform its chewing functions.

Features of caries in childhood

The development of the carious process in children is very similar to that in adults, however, there are a number of serious features that must be taken into account in the diagnosis and treatment.

The low level of tooth enamel mineralization, wider dentin tubules and low pulp activity contribute to the more rapid development and progression of the disease.
The frequent occurrence of caries in a child whose body has reduced resistance due to serious illnesses or infections.
Multiple defeats. Sometimes the pathological process affects all milk teeth at the same time.
The presence of special forms of the disease that do not occur in adults: circular caries (ring-shaped lesions of all surfaces of the tooth, often leading to breaking off the crown) and planar caries (significant damage to the surface of the tooth without spreading in depth).
For a long time, even significant defects in the tissues of the tooth may not cause any symptoms.
The possibility of early development of the disease even in a one-year-old child immediately after the eruption of temporary teeth.

Treatment

If this disease is detected in a child, it is necessary to immediately and comprehensively treat it, which is aimed both at eliminating caries and at preventing its reappearance. Therapy started in the dentist's office must be continued at home with the use of both special care products and traditional medicine techniques.

Features of treatment at the dentist

In young children (up to 4 years old), it is possible to use conservative treatment by the method of silvering at the stage of enamel stain or caries. In this case, the damaged area after cleaning from plaque and softened tissues is treated three times (with an interval of several days) with a 30% solution of silver nitrate. The disadvantage of this method is the staining of the teeth in an unpleasant black color.

Deep enamel fluoridation is similar to the previous conservative method. In this case, the teeth are repeatedly covered with a fluoride composition, which helps to restore the destroyed enamel prisms. The inconvenience of manipulation is the need to repeat it many times, which is difficult to implement in a small child.

If a carious cavity is found on the tooth, it is cleaned and filled with quick-curing composite materials. This rule is the same for the treatment of both permanent and temporary teeth.

But small patients are often so afraid of the sound of a working instrument that it does not allow the doctor to fully carry out all the necessary manipulations. Modern medicine offers an alternative to traditional methods - the use of chemical preparation. The essence of this method is the introduction of special substances into the carious cavity that soften dense pathological masses, after which the dentist cleans the tooth with hand tools and performs filling. In this case, all actions are performed without a drill!

Small patients during medical manipulations need the use of full anesthesia. Preference is given to the use of local anesthetics, but in exceptional cases, when tooth extraction is required, treatment under intravenous anesthesia is possible.

Treatment at home

In parallel with treatment in the dental office, it is necessary to carry out caries therapy at home. For this, special children's toothpastes and rinses with anti-caries effect are used.

If the child is not yet 4 years old, then for him it is necessary to purchase a toothpaste and rinse that does not contain fluoride. Treatment in this case will be carried out due to the presence of active calcium ions and antibacterial components. Older children are recommended oral hygiene products, the concentration of fluoride in which is minimal.

Therapeutic toothpastes for children:

R.O.C.S. Pro Baby
LACALUT kids
Splat junior
SILCA Putzi
President Baby

With such therapeutic pastes, the child's teeth are brushed twice a day.

Children's mouth rinses used in the treatment of caries:

LACALUT Teens
Dragon for children
Active Kids

Rinse your mouth with such solutions after each meal and at bedtime.

It is important to remember that you can use rinses for a child only when he has learned to rinse his mouth and spit out the liquid (not earlier than at 1.5 years).

Treatment with folk remedies

For children after the age of two, traditional medicine can be used in the treatment of caries.

After eating, rinse your mouth with a weak solution of ordinary or sea salt (half a teaspoon in a glass of warm water).
As a rinse, use an infusion of chamomile, for the preparation of which a tablespoon of dried flowers is infused in a glass of hot boiled water.
After brushing your teeth, let the child rinse his mouth with a decoction of sage, which is made from a tablespoon of dried leaves of the plant and 300 ml of hot water.

Homeopathy for caries in children

The use of homeopathic remedies for caries of milk teeth is not contraindicated. But this should be done only in combination with traditional dental treatment and under the supervision of an experienced homeopathic doctor. One should not count on a significant effect from such drugs, since they are most often used as preventive methods.

Consequences that occur if not treated

There is an opinion that it is not necessary to treat caries on temporary teeth, because over time they will change to permanent ones. Having heard a negative answer to their question about whether caries passes from milk teeth to permanent teeth, parents calm down and leave a carious focus in the child's mouth. However, the impact of this disease on permanent teeth in children is very high.

If untreated, caries in a child progresses very quickly and causes the development of periodontitis - inflammation of the surrounding tissues. Such a process can cause the death of the rudiment of the molar, as a result of which it will not erupt in time.
Early loss of milk teeth is fraught with violations of the normal growth of the maxillofacial system and problems with permanent occlusion.
In the absence of even one milk tooth for a long period of time, the child cannot fully chew food, which can cause digestive problems.

Authoritative specialists in the field of pediatrics (for example, Dr. Komarovsky) also advocate for the full treatment of caries in childhood.

Prevention

Prevention of caries of milk teeth begins long before the birth of a child. Since the laying of the tooth germs begins quite early, from the earliest dates, a sufficient amount of calcium, vitamin D and protein should be present in the diet of the expectant mother.

In a 1-year-old infant, the best prevention of caries is breastfeeding, since it is with mother's milk that the optimal amount of calcium and other minerals necessary for the proper formation of healthy teeth is supplied.

After the eruption of milk teeth, it is necessary to regularly carry out hygiene procedures, which consist in cleaning the surface of the enamel from plaque and food debris using special soft toothbrushes and fluorine-free pastes. Until the age of 3, sweets (especially viscous sweets and sodas) should not be introduced into the child's diet, but it is better to completely abandon them. At least twice a year it is necessary to visit the office of a pediatric dentist.

If the child lives in a region with a low content of fluorine in water, then endogenous prevention of caries is carried out by taking fluoride preparations. Such events are carried out strictly under the supervision of a doctor, since an excess of fluoride can lead to the development of fluorosis in permanent teeth.

As can be seen from our article, caries in childhood is a fairly serious problem. Underestimating it and delaying a visit to the dentist can cause serious complications and problems with a permanent set of teeth.

Hello dear readers. It's time to talk about how caries is treated in children. This problem can occur in both the baby and the baby at 5 years old. Some parents do not consider it necessary to give the child extra stress and treat milk teeth. In this article, we will talk about the need for this procedure, about possible complications and methods of prevention. We will also consider the causes that provoke caries, characteristic symptoms and diagnosis.

Types of caries

The classification of this disease is based on the depth, localization of the lesion and the intensity of pain.

Distinguish: caries on milk teeth and permanent ones (may occur in children over 5 years old).

Based on the depth of distribution, there are:

The initial stage of the disease - white spots of different sizes appear on the surface of the teeth. During this period, the baby still has no pain. If treatment does not begin, then these spots will gradually darken, eventually becoming black.
The superficial stage is characterized by superficial damage to the tissues of the tooth. The child begins to experience pain, usually when eating sweets or something sour, salty.
Middle stage. Accompanied by intense pain, the dentin and tooth enamel are rapidly affected.
Deep degree. It is the most dangerous stage. At this stage, most of the internal tissues are affected, as well as tooth enamel. The presence of such a condition may be indicated by a complete refusal of food, the capriciousness of the child, pain of a constant nature.

Consider primary and secondary caries. In the case of the first, the disease occurs for the first time, as for the second, a relapse of the disease is observed. There are cases when caries develops under a filling, while it is called internal.

According to the speed of development, they distinguish:

compensated - the course of the disease is slow, sometimes it can completely slow down;
subcompensated - develops gradually, parents may not notice its appearance for a long time;
decompensated - a rapid process of destruction of the tooth surface, accompanied by characteristic symptoms, severe pain and inability to chew food.

Based on the place of localization, they distinguish:

fissure - occurs in the recesses on the surface of the tooth;
circular - affects the tissues of the teeth along the periphery, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe gums;
approximal caries - affects the upper part of the teeth lying on the opposite jaw, that is, those with which the primary infected tooth comes into contact;
cervical - occurs at the junction of the gums and the crown.

Based on how many teeth are damaged, there are:

generalized - most of the teeth are affected;
multiple - found on several teeth;
single - the affected area is only on one tooth.

Features in children

It is important to understand that babies have a low degree of tooth mineralization. Unlike adults, wide dentinal tubules are present. Pulp activity is low. All this contributes to the accelerated development of caries.
As a result of infectious processes in the body, caries can develop in a peanut.
In peanuts, there are more forms of manifestation of this disease. Unlike adults, there are superficial and circular.
The disease can occur even in the smallest, soon after the appearance of the first tooth.
The peanuts are characterized by multiple lesions. Caries does not occur on one tooth, but immediately on ten or more.
In children, the presence of even serious defects in dental tissue may not cause any symptoms.

We, like any baby, had caries, and more than once. I want to note that the initial experience with the dentist's office (in the state clinic) was very unpleasant. I was very annoyed by the way doctors treat little patients rudely and refuse to wear gloves. I, of course, supervised the process and made sure that my child was treated with respect, and I had the doctor put on sterile gloves that I had bought in advance. The result of this treatment is the development of inflammation under the filling. We did not return to this clinic, she took her son to a paid one. Conditions and attitudes are incomparable. In addition, his favorite cartoon was included for his son, which also pleased. When we got to the first appointment, it turned out that the baby did not brush his teeth correctly, in a sense, and I did it wrong too. The dentist showed on the example of the model what movements should be used to clean the oral cavity. Although I took my son twice a year to the dentist's office, caries still had time to form. As our doctor said, this is due to an excessive love of sweets and constant problems with the reluctance to brush your teeth.

Caries and breastfeeding

Mom's milk has a beneficial effect, is a good means of prevention, prevents the development of caries. You need to know that the composition of breast milk includes specific immunoglobulins that have a protective function, which successfully suppress all vital activity of bacteria. If a mother feeds her baby for more than a year and a half, the level of lactoferrin, a protein that kills pathogenic microorganisms, increases in his body. It is important that the baby receives valuable substances with mother's milk, moreover, in a form that is easily digestible for the child's body. Thus, breastfeeding favorably affects the strengthening of tooth enamel, mineralization of tissues.

Need to be treated

The problem of many young parents is that they are not serious about the appearance of changes in milk teeth in a child. Mom may consider that there is no need to treat the teeth of a 4-year-old son if they are already replaced by permanent ones. However, she does not know that the bacteria that provoke caries can harm the entire body of the baby, and the consequences of this disease can be quite serious.
Mom must understand that caries is an infectious disease. Microorganisms from the oral cavity during swallowing penetrate into the digestive organs, which leads to deviations in their functioning. In addition, the affected teeth become quite sensitive to changes in food temperature, so the baby will react sharply to a cold or hot food. Because of the pain, the child will begin to refuse to eat. It is believed that a toddler suffering from a toothache begins to lag behind in development.
It is important to understand that the lack of treatment will lead to the fact that the infectious process will affect the rudiments of molars. In addition, neglected caries leads to premature removal of the milk tooth, which will lead to the development of malocclusion.
And do not forget that a neglected tooth can begin to collapse, inflammation will go to the roots - the baby will have unbearable pain.

Causes

It is important to know what was the factor in the development of caries in order to be able to prevent this process next time. There are various causes of caries in children, let's get acquainted with the main ones.

hereditary predisposition.
Unhealthy lifestyle, unhealthy diet of the expectant mother. It must be remembered that the rudiments of teeth are formed during the period of intrauterine development.
Transfer of carious germs from parent to child through kissing or sharing utensils.
The absence of solid foods in the child's diet does not allow the natural way to clean the surface of the teeth.
Lack of calcium in the body, responsible for tooth enamel (its strengthening).
Low degree of mineralization of milk teeth.
Late weaning from the pacifier.
The presence of such a pathology as rickets affects the accelerated destruction of dental tissues.
The enzymatic composition of saliva can have a negative effect on tooth enamel.
Anomaly of bite and dentition.
Lack of oral hygiene.
Increased fluoride content in food and drinking water.
An excess of carbohydrate-containing foods in the diet of a child leads to increased reproduction of bacteria, in the process of decay of the latter, an organic acid is formed that damages tooth enamel.
In infants, bottle caries is most common, which occurs due to the fact that the baby falls asleep with a bottle in the mouth.
If the mother suffered a serious illness during pregnancy or was forced to take medication, especially in the first trimester, then it is highly likely that the proper development of the teeth, which begin to form during this period, will be disrupted.
The occurrence of caries in a baby under 3 years old is most often due to the action of medications or the presence of chronic pathologies. It is very important that children at this age do not get carried away with snacks, in particular sweets, this negatively affects the teeth.

Symptoms

How to determine in time that the baby has caries? Sometimes the process goes unnoticed, and parents learn about the disease when it is in a rather neglected state.

The appearance of white spots on the surface of the tooth, which leads to a change in a uniform color.
Soreness during chewing food, an acute reaction to cold or hot, sour, salty.
Bad breath.
The appearance of crater-shaped cavities.

It is important that in the early stages the disease is asymptomatic and the whole complex of signs is present only at the most advanced stage of the disease. Therefore, it is so important to visit the dental office twice a year, without waiting for the onset of pain in the child.

If we consider dental caries in young children, we can distinguish bottle and cervical type. In children under 3 years old, microorganisms actively damage the cervical area of the canines and incisors on the upper jaw, while the lower jaw remains intact due to the fact that during breast sucking or bottle feeding, the teeth located below are cleaned naturally (tongue).

Signs of cervical caries:

localization of the lesion at the base of the gums;
there is no hypersensitivity;
due to thinning of the enamel, a change in the color of the affected area occurs;
there is an increase in the stain, which leads to the formation of a hole in the cavity of the tooth, severe pain occurs;
at the beginning of the disease, only a specialist can notice any changes.

Signs of bottle caries:

the occurrence of plaque on the upper canines and incisors;
two or more teeth are damaged at once;
a yellowish or whitish shade of spots is characteristic;
there is a plural character;
the baby has hypersensitivity;
foci are localized in the region of the neck of the tooth;
as the disease progresses, the color of the spots will change to dark brown;
the baby has painful sensations when in contact with food of different temperatures or chemical composition.

About how caries manifests itself in children, a photo of this disease:

Diagnostics

To diagnose the disease at an early stage, often invisible to the ordinary eye, the following procedures can be carried out:

examination by a specialist of the oral cavity of a toddler using a mirror and a probe;
x-ray, which allows you to examine the initial stage of caries;
transillumination - the baby's teeth are translucent;
photopolymerization;
electroodontometry - a pain symptom is determined using a weak discharge current;
drying is a method for diagnosing an early stage of the disease;
vital staining - blue is applied to the tooth, the affected areas are painted blue;
fluorescent stomatoscopy - diagnostics is carried out with ultraviolet radiation. At the same time, healthy areas are painted in a blue tint, and the affected ones are dark.

Possible Complications

If caries is not treated in a timely manner, it can lead to serious consequences.

The child may develop
The occurrence of periodontitis. Inflammation of nearby tissues occurs, which can lead to the absolute death of the rudiment of a permanent tooth. Such a case will be the answer for parents who have a question "".
If the teeth are left untreated, an extensive infectious process can begin, which will lead the tooth to such a state that it will need to be removed. Due to premature removal, there will be a high probability of malocclusion, and even deviations in the development of the jaw.
If the baby gets sick or even has a tooth pulled out, this will lead to problems with chewing food, which in turn will cause a violation of the digestive process.

Treatment

It is important that the parents of the baby are aware of the need for medical procedures, even with a disease of milk teeth. In addition, you need to understand that the sooner you go to the dentist, the less painful the preparation will be.

If this is your first time going to the doctor, make sure that it is a good specialist who loves children. It is important that the baby is not afraid, that he perceives this doctor normally.

The treatment process includes:

conducting anesthesia in two stages, a gel is applied to the mucous membrane, after which an injection is made;
after the local anesthesia has acted, drilling of the cavity affected by caries begins, if no other method can already be applied.

Parents should understand that the method of intended treatment depends on the stage of development of the disease:

If the initial stage of the disease is observed, then the child will be offered:

silvering. Popular with kids under 3 years old. Silver has an antibacterial effect, helps prevent the destruction of enamel. The procedure is carried out by applying silver nitrate to a cotton ball, followed by treatment of the teeth. However, it must be borne in mind that during this procedure, the tooth is painted black.
remineralization therapy. It is the penetration of calcium preparations into the structure of the tooth, while restoring the crystal lattice. There is a wide variety of means of this direction, so the drug is selected individually for each child, depending on his age, the characteristics of the course of the disease and the level of its intensity. The difficulty is that the course of treatment is long, visits to the dentist are carried out daily. The baby needs to be monitored, because a large amount of fluoride in the body can lead to serious poisoning.

If a child has medium or deep caries, then, as a rule, they use options for classical preparation with further filling. However, there is an alternative:

preparation with a drill - drilling takes place with a tip at a fairly low speed, after which water cooling is performed;
art technique - hand tools are used to remove various tissues. This method is very painless;
laser preparation - this method is convenient to use, the action is directed exclusively to the affected area of the tooth, and also does not cause pain;
ozonation - tissue is nourished with ozone, which helps to actively fight microorganisms;
depophoresis - active substances penetrate into the dental tissues under the influence of an electric current.

When the condition is neglected, the tooth may not respond to treatment, it will have to be removed.

You need to know that composites, glass ionomer cements, compomers and sealants are used for the filling procedure. Compomers, which are fillings of different colors, are very popular with young children. The kid chooses the paint he likes with interest, and then with pleasure shows the new filling to his friends.

Help at home

Along with medical actions in the dentist's office, it is important to carry out therapy at home. The doctor will prescribe a special rinse or children's toothpaste, which has an anti-caries effect.
If we are talking about a child who is not yet 4 years old, then this remedy must be selected without fluorine content. At this age, the use of active calcium ions, as well as antibacterial components, will be correct. It is important that the baby rinse his mouth after each meal, only on condition that he copes with this procedure.
A peanut who is over 2 years old may be prescribed a mouth rinse:

a weak solution of sea salt (place a teaspoon in a glass of warm water);
infusion of pharmacy chamomile (for preparation, you need a tablespoon of a dried plant in a glass of boiled water; the solution is adjusted within half an hour);
decoction of sage (for cooking it is necessary to pour a tablespoon of crushed dry plant into a glass of hot water).

Prevention

It is important to teach your child to take care of their teeth from childhood. What can be done to reduce the risk of caries.

Hygiene. Very important from a very young age. At first, this is done by the mother using special devices, then she teaches the child to use a children's toothbrush.
After each meal, you need to rinse your mouth.
It is necessary to reduce the consumption of carbohydrate-containing foods.
With a lack of fluorine, special preparations are prescribed, the use of fluoridated water is recommended.
Every day, solid foods, such as carrots and apples, should be present in the baby's diet. They will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the teeth and gums. In addition, chewing solid food has a positive effect on neutralizing the acid contained in the oral cavity, thereby preventing the development of carious microorganisms.
It is important to visit the dentist at least twice a year.

Now you know what a condition such as caries in children is. Remember the need for medical procedures in children of any age in the presence of any changes in the structure of the tooth. Make sure that the baby is not afraid of meeting with the dentist, he is normal about it. Spend more time on preventive measures, because it is always easier to follow special rules than to torment your child with the look of a drill later.

According to statistics, today only 20% of children do not know what caries and a dental chair are. Parents do not take this disease too seriously because of its high prevalence. And really, why worry if all children equally walk with damaged teeth. In fact, early caries is a complex problem that requires a comprehensive solution. Today we will talk about the causes and prevention measures, as well as the available treatment options. This information will be extremely important for all parents, as it will help to avoid a number of troubles.

What is caries

This is the process of destruction of hard tissues of the tooth. There are many reasons for this, we will analyze them in detail today. These can be both external and internal reasons, that is, the general state of the body, immunity in the first place, also affects.

However, the main reason why early caries develops is plaque, or to be more precise, the bacteria that live in the oral cavity. How do they get there? Everything is very simple, mom becomes their carrier. They licked the nipple, gave the crumbs to eat from their spoon, and so the teeth began to deteriorate, not having had time to really grow. But that's not all. If the mother did not treat her teeth before pregnancy, then early caries is guaranteed for the baby, because he will be initially infected.

How does tooth decay progress?

We have already figured out that there are bacteria in the oral cavity that are responsible for the development of this disease. But the products of their vital activity cause early caries. It turns out a classic food chain. Bacteria eat sugars and produce acids. As a result, the acid-base balance in the oral cavity is disturbed.

This is the answer to the main question of why early caries develops so quickly. Enamel of milk teeth is very weakly mineralized, this is especially noticeable in the first 2 years and 5 months of life. It is because of this that dentists recommend giving up sweets at least during this period of a child’s life, not giving him too cold or hot food.

So, the resulting acid leaches minerals from the enamel, which means that the process of destruction is very fast. Early caries in just a few months turns into complicated forms, in which dentists remove teeth. Imagine that the child at this point may still be only a year old. At the age of 2 to 3 years, these processes slow down, but most often by this time it is too late, and most of the teeth are in a deplorable state.

Causes of early caries in children

Let us now discuss in detail why such a disease develops. Many parents think that if they do not give the baby sweets, then they are completely protected from the development of caries. In fact, it's too early to relax. The list of reasons is much longer:

Improper oral hygiene. Even if the teeth are just erupting, they immediately need proper care. This is wiping the gums with a damp cloth, and later brushing with a wet brush without paste. When a child erupts 6-7 teeth, you can start using the first paste without fluoride.
Infection with pathogenic microorganisms. We've talked about this before, but it's worth repeating. It is impossible to eat with a child from one spoon, especially if you have carious teeth in your mouth.
genetic predisposition. This is a violation of the development of enamel, which is laid even during intrauterine formation, due to the mother's smoking or taking certain medications.
Lack of vitamins and minerals, in particular fluorine and calcium in the child's diet.
Prolonged breastfeeding, no matter how strange it may seem. By the time the milk teeth are formed, the baby will be transferred to five meals a day. But if the baby continues to breastfeed without restriction, at any time of the day or night, without performing oral hygiene after that, plaque and carious cavities form.
Mixtures and juices, milk, sweet compotes - all this contributes to the development of caries. This factor is especially serious if the child does not part with the bottle day and night. After a year at night, he should receive only water. In the afternoon after each feeding it is necessary to carry out oral hygiene.
The cookies and muffins, sweets and marshmallows that are given to the child are also an important factor, since there is always food for bacteria in the mouth. It is not necessary to completely deprive the child of sweets, but convey to him that after the candy you need to chew gum, rinse your mouth, or at least drink water.

It is important for everyone to know

Once again, summing up, I would like to note that early caries in children occurs largely due to fractional and frequent feedings on demand, as well as unlimited access to snacks during the day and, most importantly, at night. Replace all sweets with fruits. The fructose they contain does not pose any danger. In addition, the diet should have enough calcium, the main source of which is cottage cheese and cheese. Equally important is vitamin D, which we get from fish. In addition, the body can produce it on its own under the influence of sunlight. The third required component is fluorine. You can buy special water filters enriched with this element.

Preventive actions

Early caries of milk teeth is much easier to prevent than to treat. And first of all, hygiene will help you. All the activities described above (rinsing the mouth, rubbing the first teeth and their subsequent cleaning) are also aimed at reducing the risk of developing the disease. If you notice bright white stripes on your child's teeth, then you need to contact your dentist as soon as possible. Soon enough they will turn into dark spots.

Early childhood caries can be stopped in the early stages by using drugs that increase the mineral composition of tooth enamel. From birth to six years, doctors prescribe special gels, such as "ROKS Minerale". Mom will rub it into the gums, and the minerals will effectively strengthen the tooth enamel. After six years, "Remars Gel" is prescribed, which also gives very good results.

The consequences of advanced forms of the disease

Often parents believe that nothing terrible is happening. These are milk teeth, they will fall out and that's it. Photos of early caries in advanced stages are a rather unpleasant picture, but you need to think not only about the aesthetic side of the issue. If the disease is not treated, then there is a general decrease in immunity. And how could it be otherwise, when a breeding ground of bacteria grows in the cavity of the tooth, which tend to capture the rest of the organs. As long as the immune system is strong, it will keep the bacteria in check, but once it fails, hostile microorganisms take over.

The child is often sick

What causes uncontrolled bacterial growth? First of all, these are constant problems of ENT organs. Closest are the tonsils, followed by the bronchi and lungs. In this case, parents are faced with endless sore throats, coughs and other manifestations of acute respiratory infections.

Gastrointestinal diseases are rarely associated with caries, but there is also a direct relationship here. The child swallows a large number of streptococcal bacteria along with waste products. It is clear that this does not affect the digestion process in the best way.

Moreover, all this along the chain pulls orthodontic problems with it. Since the teeth hurt, and the respiratory organs are constantly in an inflamed state, the wrong bite gradually develops, the habit of breathing through the mouth. This is reflected even in the formation of specific facial features. See how much an untreated tooth means.

What can be done

In fact, parents can, if not completely cure, then significantly stop early caries. How to get rid of a rapidly progressing disease at home, we will talk with you now. The first thing to remember is that home treatments can be effective only in the early stages.

You can also define it yourself. If the damaged tooth still does not hurt, even when too cold or hot water gets in, there are no black dots, and the caries itself looks like a whitish strip, then a number of measures should be taken to prevent further development of the clinical picture. In principle, this is the prevention that was described above. If you realized it at this stage of the development of the disease, then a photo of early caries in children will practically not differ in any way from a healthy smile, with the exception of bright white spots. So:

Urgently choose a special paste and use it twice a day.
Additionally, treat your teeth with gels and compounds to strengthen the enamel.
Use conditioners.
Follow your diet. That is, replace sweets with vegetables and fruits and enrich the diet with fermented milk products.

Folk recipes

First of all, this is the use of medicinal herbs and decoctions from them:

For these purposes, dentists recommend using sage. It destroys microorganisms and normalizes the acid-base environment in the oral cavity. To do this, 100 g of dry grass is poured with the same amount of vodka. After two weeks, the product can be used in the form of applications.
For rinsing, they often take an infusion of finely chopped roots. This will require a glass of raw materials, cut into pieces. They are poured with a liter of vodka and insisted for 7 days. After that, the tincture is used for evening rinsing, diluted with water.
Mint strengthens tooth enamel. To do this, the leaves are cut and put in a water bath for several minutes. You can add a little wine vinegar to them for better preservation. Used for rinsing.
A decoction of onion peel effectively kills bacteria.
Simple soda and salt perfectly inhibit the development of caries. To do this, 40 g of a substance is added to a glass of water. Rinse your mouth with this solution every time after eating.

Further development of the disease

So far, we have only talked about early caries. It will not be possible to get rid of deeper lesions at home. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor. Even the superficial stage is characterized by the appearance of defects on the enamel, which creates a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms. The middle stage is associated with the destruction of not only enamel, but also dentin. Here, painful sensations already arise when in contact with cold and hot, when consuming sour and sweet. The deep stage of caries is the defeat of the internal cavities of the tooth. Now the disease is approaching the nerve endings. Accordingly, the pain becomes more and more pronounced.

Instead of a conclusion

As you can see, caring for the oral cavity is by and large the task of parents. It is you who can create all the conditions for making trips to the dentist rare and enjoyable. In our article, we provide a photo of early caries of milk teeth, so that you have a good idea of \u200b\u200bhow it all starts. No need to wait until black spots or holes appear on the teeth. If you start acting now, the chances of stopping the disease are much higher. And of course, without consulting a professional doctor, at least once every 6 months, you can’t do without it.

Caries - a disease of the hard tissues of the tooth, leading to the formation of damage first, and then a cavity in it. In recent years, there has been a trend towards the prevalence and intensity caries teeth in children. Decay of milk teeth is often found in children aged 2-3 years, but in some cases it can also occur in children. child under 2 years old. Prevalence caries by 4 years in different regions of the country is 20-80%.

Causes caries

As a rule, early damage to milk teeth by caries is associated with damage to the tooth germs even in the prenatal period. The formation of tooth germs in the embryo begins in the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, the diseases of the future mother, transferred during this period or taking medications, can lead to a violation of the proper development of the teeth in the fetus. At the heart of problems with teeth after they erupt are poor oral hygiene and poor eating habits. The latter, first of all, should include prolonged use of nipples. Babies who can't switch from a bottle to drinking from a cup or cup for too long, and especially babies who fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth every night, are at great risk of developing so-called bottle caries. With this type of disease, from prolonged contact of a liquid from a bottle (as a rule, if it is sweet) with teeth, all front teeth are affected by caries, and the process spreads along the circumference of the crown part of the tooth, that is, around the entire visible part of the tooth along the perimeter. And of course child up to 3 years should not snack between meals, especially foods containing a large amount of carbohydrates (chocolate, sweets, etc.). as sweets to kid it is better to offer fruits, cookies, dryers, pastries, marmalade, marshmallows. Sweet can be eaten after breakfast or after dinner, and after that brush your teeth soon. After all, almost no one child cannot grow up without sweets, only their use should be reasonable and limited.

The Forbidden fruit is sweet…

not to tempt child kind of "forbidden fruits", you just need not to buy them and not eat them yourself. Grandma and other relatives and friends of your family, of course, bring sweets baby only for the best of intentions. But it is in your power to talk to them and explain what you can bring to kid instead of sweets, a book, pictures, toys, etc. Poor oral hygiene (or lack of it) leads to the fact that the plaque remaining on the teeth after eating turns into the so-called dental plaque, which contains bacteria that produce lactic acid, the acid, in turn, can cause damage to the enamel and influence the development caries. The appearance of the first teeth in child a toothbrush and toothpaste appropriate for his age should also appear. Early development of the habit of brushing your teeth 2 times a day (in the morning and in the evening after meals) will help to avoid many problems.

signs caries

According to the depth of the lesion, caries of milk teeth is divided into several types.

Initial - white spots of various shapes and sizes appear on the enamel, there is no pain. If you do not carry out treatment, then the process progresses - the spots become dark, brown, black. With timely treatment, further development caries can be paused).
Superficial - a defect in the tissues of the tooth is within the enamel. The carious cavity can be light or dark. Pain appears when exposed to sweet, sour, salty. Cavity filling required.
Medium - the enamel of the tooth and part of the dentin (the tissue inside the tooth) is affected. Pain can come from sweet, salty, cold and hot. Cavity filling required.
Deep - the enamel and most of the dentin are affected.) The method of treatment depends on the state of the pulp - filling or conservative treatment - the use of medical pads in combination with delayed filling.

Children are characterized by multiple lesions of the teeth (all 20 milk teeth may be affected). In addition, childhood is characterized by the occurrence of several carious cavities in one tooth. Also, in some children, due to the anatomical and physiological features of the structure of their teeth, the layer of enamel and dentin is thinner, hard tissues are highly permeable, and all this leads to a rapid spread of the carious process not only over the surface of the tooth, but also deep into. As a result, the process extends to deeper tissues, and pulpitis and periodontitis develop.

Complications

Pulpitis- This is a disease in which the soft tissues of the tooth (pulp) are covered by the inflammatory process. The clinical picture of pulpitis can develop within a few hours. Usually before this child makes minor complaints, then there is acute pain mainly at night, or pain from thermal stimuli. Such complaints indicate that, most likely, the carious cavity is so deep that it has penetrated to the pulp of the tooth. Immediate medical intervention is required. If the tooth hurt repeatedly, there is swelling of the cheek or gums, there is a fistula (hole) with purulent discharge on the mucous membrane near the tooth, pain is observed when biting on the tooth, this means that the pathological process has spread beyond the tooth and has arisen periodontitis- inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth. The doctor will choose tactics in the treatment of periodontitis individually, but most likely such a milk tooth cannot be cured and it must be removed.

Methods of treatment caries

At the very early stage of development caries in children, the enamel silvering method can be used, in which a special solution containing silver ions is applied to the untreated carious cavity. As a rule, it is a temporary measure in the fight against caries. In addition, when using silver preparations, a persistent black staining of the tooth occurs, which does not look aesthetically pleasing enough. To the most traditional methods of treatment caries milk teeth involves the removal of the affected tooth tissue using a drill under local anesthesia or without it. The decision on the need for local anesthesia is made by the doctor in each case individually. Sometimes no amount of persuasion helps, and child does not hear the arguments of the doctor and parents about the need to “open your mouth” or “show, treat your teeth”. As a rule, this problem is typical for children 3 years old or for children suffering from concomitant diseases. Then the question arises about the treatment of teeth under general anesthesia. It is always important to remember that treatment under general anesthesia is only one of the options that modern dentistry offers. This method should be used strictly according to indications and cannot be widespread. The child should not be afraid of the dentist, but make friends with him, imbued with the need for dental treatment. After all, he will have to face this problem throughout his subsequent life. Much in the psychological mood depends on the parents and relatives of the baby, who sometimes convey their fear of dentists to him. Try to explain to kid the need to visit a dentist to set it up is not afraid of this procedure.

Prevention of caries

Caries can occur in children from a very young age, therefore, preventive measures must be carried out with the appearance of the first teeth. Caries can be prevented by removing food debris and microbial plaque from the mouth with oral hygiene products. First of all, these include a toothbrush and toothpaste.

What to clean?

Experts differ on when to start brushing their teeth with toothpaste. The taste of pasta may seem to kid unpleasant, so it is better to start using the paste after the first year of life. Toothpaste in its composition must be age-appropriate child- information about this is on the packaging. At child up to 3 years, the paste should not contain fluorine. At this age, children swallow most of the paste and do not know how to rinse their mouth. Fluoride is an active element and swallowing large amounts of fluoride paste can cause serious consequences and requires immediate medical attention. From the age of 4, children are able to partially spit out the remnants of the paste after brushing their teeth. That is why toothpastes for this age contain fluoride. The process of maturation of tooth enamel is accelerated with the regular use of hygiene products containing active fluorine, while it has been proven that the risk of developing caries teeth. Toothbrushes for children are extremely diverse. For the very first teeth, fingertip brushes are suitable, with which the mother can easily and gently remove plaque from the baby's teeth. By the age of 2.5-3 years, the baby should be gradually accustomed to brushing his teeth on his own, giving him a toothbrush in his hand.

Additional oral hygiene products

- dental floss (floss). Start flossing when all 20 primary teeth have erupted (usually between 2 and 2.5 years of age). Floss should be used only if the teeth are very close to each other. This should be done with great care so as not to injure the gums. - dental elixirs (rinses)) may provide additional hygiene for high-risk children caries. Special children's elixirs contain fluorine in the proportion required by children. It can be used after brushing your teeth twice a day, or after eating foods high in sugar. - chewing gums should be given to children not earlier than 3 years. Sweeteners (xylitol, sorbitol, etc.), which are contained in them, have a beneficial effect on tooth enamel, preventing the formation of caries. In addition, chewing gum causes increased salivation and promotes self-cleaning of the oral cavity. They can be used by all children, regardless of whether they have fillings in their mouths or not. The duration of chewing gum should be no more than 10-15 minutes.

How to clean?

Sometimes trying to brush your teeth can cause a negative reaction. You shouldn't be upset about this. You need to be patient and ... play. A child under 3 years old, and even later, learns the world through the game. Therefore, you can not insist on brushing your teeth, hoping that he understands how important it is. You just need to play. For such a game, a battery-powered brush with a toy on the handle is also well suited. . The movements made by the toothbrush should be different for different groups of teeth. The front teeth are cleaned with vertical unidirectional movements, from the gums. Behind the cheeks - circular movements with closed teeth. The chewing surface of the teeth is cleaned with horizontal movements back and forth, from the inside (from the side of the tongue and palate) with sweeping upward movements, like a “panicle”. It is important not only what movements are made, but also how much time is devoted to this. To control the sufficiency of brushing your teeth, there are 2 ways:

the first - by time (about 10 minutes to brush all teeth), for which you can use an hourglass or any other clock
the second - by the number of movements (5-6 movements for each area occupied by the bristles of the brush).

Proper nutrition

Prevention of dental diseases also includes a balanced diet, that is, a diet in which food contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals necessary for proper growth and formation of tooth tissues. For babies, this is, of course, breastfeeding. For older children - the introduction into the diet of all the necessary types of complementary foods recommended for this age. Also, additional sources of fluoride can be fluorinated salt and water; no special indications are required for their use. Main sources calcium are: dairy products, cheese, cottage cheese, potatoes, gooseberries, buckwheat, oats, peas, some types of mineral water.

First visit to the dentist

The need for the first visit child a visit to the dentist usually occurs for two reasons: a preventive examination for admission to a preschool institution or complaints that have arisen. In any case, the first visit to the dentist should not be postponed after 4 years. child. It is necessary to visit the dentist 2 times a year. If the carious process has already begun, then for such a period it will not have time to spread deeply, the tooth will be saved and there will be no complications caries(pulpitis, periodontitis). In addition, the earlier the dentist detects caries, the more painless and successful the treatment will be, and in some cases, with the initial stages of superficial caries it will be possible to do without instrumental intervention by treating with mineralizing agents, applying therapeutic solutions of fluorine and calcium to damaged areas of enamel. The dentist carries out not only dental treatment, but also preventive measures aimed at keeping teeth and gums healthy:

professional oral hygiene (removes plaque)
treats teeth with fluoride and calcium preparations
teaches the little patient how to properly brush their teeth
if necessary, prescribes a general treatment (taking vitamin and mineral supplements inside)
together with parents, adjusts the diet and composition of the diet child reveals bad habits
carries out sealing of fissures (grooves on the chewing surface of the tooth) (a preventive measure aimed at preventing the occurrence of caries in permanent teeth)

Caries in young children is a common problem. If you do not engage in the prevention of the disease, do not treat the affected teeth, you can get many complications. Caries of milk teeth in young children develops rapidly, therefore, treatment should be carried out as soon as a problem is discovered.

Should caries be treated?

Many parents wonder whether it is necessary to treat caries of milk teeth, because they will fall out anyway. You are mistaken if you think that this is not necessary. Caries quickly affects the child's tooth, and the infection can spread to the root, gums. Often, due to the disease, abscesses, suppuration of tissues occur, which is dangerous for the child's body. In such cases, simple fillings are not enough. The only way out is to remove a bad tooth, which children are afraid of, and this injures their immature psyche.

Removal can spoil the baby's bite, cause speech impairment, and bad breath appears. An ugly smile can cause many complexes, children will scoff at him. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully approach the solution of this problem and try to prevent the occurrence of caries.

Important! Most often, the disease occurs in babies up to a year old, who have only recently erupted teeth. Every tenth child is faced with this disease - caries of milk teeth.

Causes of caries

The reason for such a rapid growth and reproduction of caries in the mouth can be various factors that contribute to this. One of the reasons is the entry of pathogenic microflora into the oral cavity, which contains microbes that cause the destruction of tooth enamel. This can happen if parents lick the baby's spoon, nipple, give food from the mouth, or kiss the baby hard on the lips.

Insufficient hygiene, the child rarely brushes his teeth or does it incorrectly.
If the baby's diet contains a lot of sugar, tooth decay may occur. The sweet environment is a great breeding ground for bacteria that cause diseases in the mouth.
In young children, mostly soft foods that do not need to be chewed thoroughly. This leads to a decrease in the secretion of saliva, which naturally cleanses the oral cavity.
With food, the baby receives little calcium, as a result, the teeth begin to deteriorate.
Incorrect laying of teeth in the womb, due to past illnesses or taking illegal drugs.
The intake of food or liquid through the nipple has a negative effect. Food is in contact with the teeth for a long time, which causes caries to appear sooner.
If the parents have bad teeth, then it is likely that this will be passed on to the offspring.
With rickets, the destruction of tooth enamel is observed.

Important! Water that has a high fluoride content can cause decay and disease in a child's mouth.

Photo of caries of milk teeth in children

Symptoms of the disease

The classic onset of the disease is the appearance of a small white spot on the enamel. At first, you may not even notice it. The child has no pain, he eats the usual food without discomfort. Identifying the problem at this stage is not easy. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to visit a doctor every six months. The dentist may cover the teeth with a special substance that will color the affected areas, or examine the oral cavity with a special optical device.

Without adequate treatment, caries develops at the white spot stage. Dark spots, small holes appear on milk teeth. The child begins to complain of pain when taking hot, cold or sweet foods, food can get stuck between the teeth. Over time, the affected areas increase, the pain becomes more and more noticeable and sharp, and bad breath appears.

How caries affects the child's body:

untreated caries - a source of infection in the body, can cause other diseases in the baby (sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media);
damage to the gums and soft tissues of the oral cavity, blood poisoning;
the destruction of milk teeth can adversely affect the formation of permanent ones;
the child begins to eat poorly;
there is a sleep disturbance due to pain;
bite changes, speech defects may appear.

Photo of caries in children the initial stage

Treatment of teeth affected by caries

For the treatment of such a disease, the same methods can be used as for the treatment of adults. The only point that parents need to pay attention to is how to prepare the child mentally for the treatment procedure as much as possible. To date, many methods have been developed for painless treatment of both milk and permanent teeth in children, but the psychological factor remains the responsibility of mom or dad. Consider the most common methods of treatment.

Remineralization

Remineralization of enamel or restoration of tooth tissues. A special substance is applied to the cleaned tooth surface, which contains a lot of calcium, fluorine, phosphorus. This will restore damaged enamel. The procedure must be repeated every six months. It is used for the early stages of the disease, when large holes have not yet formed. It is also an ideal drillless treatment for very young children.

Remineralization of teeth in a child

Silvering

Silver plating is the coating of the surface of the teeth with silver nitrate, which protects the enamel from destruction. Silvering produces a bactericidal effect. You need to repeat the procedure after six months. The disadvantage of the method is that the teeth become black.

Important! If a child is afraid of going to the dentist, nitrous oxide can be used. After breathing a little through a special mask, the baby will calm down, relax and the doctor will be able to treat.

Silver teeth in a child

Seal

Filling can be carried out without a drill. An acid containing agent is applied to the affected area with a hole, which corrodes the enamel and disinfects. Then a special polymer is placed in the hole, which hardens under ultraviolet light.

Also apply standard sealing. With the help of a drill, a hole in the tooth enamel is cleaned, after which it is sealed. Baby teeth, like permanent teeth, have nerve endings. Therefore, the dentist may apply local anesthesia.

Important! Sometimes children categorically refuse to open their mouths for the dentist. Then the doctor may decide to perform general anesthesia. This method has many contraindications, therefore it is undesirable to use it.

Dental filling in a child

Prevention of caries

Preventive measures that can be observed together with the child will help prevent the occurrence of caries. To do this, follow these simple guidelines.

Limit the intake of carbohydrates, including sweet compotes, fruit juices.
Make sure your baby doesn't fall asleep with a bottle. If this happens, carefully remove the pacifier from your mouth and clean your teeth with a tissue.
When the baby's first teeth erupted, limit feeding at night.
After the appearance of the first - start brushing in the morning and evening.

Important! Children under two years of age can brush their teeth without using toothpaste.

Do not lick the baby's nipple, spoon, do not give food from your mouth.
As soon as possible, come to an appointment with a pediatric dentist, it is better to do this before the child is one year old.
Immediately after the onset of symptoms of caries, consult a doctor.

How to properly brush your child's teeth

You can use a toothbrush after a year of life. Buy a special brush that is designed for children. Do oral hygiene in a playful way, do not yell at the baby, and do not force him to brush. The child must understand that there is nothing wrong with this procedure. You need to brush your teeth thoroughly and for at least 2-3 minutes.

Important! Do not buy fluoride-containing toothpaste for your child under three years of age.

To clean the first teeth of babies up to a year, use gauze. Wrap it around your finger and wipe the surface. Do not use toothpaste, just wet it with water.