Decayed teeth in a child always have to be treated, no matter whether they are permanent or still deciduous. Otherwise a toddler or a teenager will have to struggle with pain, long treatment or having to wear braces. We would also like to remind you that rotten teeth affect not only the oral cavity but also the health of the entire body.

If you are interested in the last sentence we recommend you our text "Decayed teeth a danger to the whole body". And now we're back on topic...

Decayed teeth in a child - causes

A toddler's dental problems can start almost simultaneously with the appearance of the first teeth. We are referring here to bottle tooth decay and it is the responsibility of the parents to prevent it in 100%.  

From the very beginning, i.e. even before teethingThe baby's gums should be washed. And as soon as the first tooth appears, start using a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste designed for young children.

It is poor oral hygiene, or lack of it, that is the most common cause of rotten teeth in children. Added to this is a poor diet with too many sweets and sugary drinks. 

Other factors that contribute to tooth deterioration are bad habits. This includes chewing on pens or pencils, which can result in a crooked bite or mechanical damage.

Lastly, congenital defects, such as an overbite. This also affects the entire dentition. In such cases, it is difficult to talk about prevention, but - importantly - it is important to contact a specialist as soon as possible and start treatment. However, in most situations...

Prevention is better than cure 

This constantly repeated phrase still does not always apply in real life. Children come to our practice whose teeth are so damaged that extraction is the only option. This translates into pain and stress for the child and a high risk of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment. 

We remind you that the extraction of a tooth - including a deciduous tooth - is a last resort. As soon as a tooth can be saved, we always recommend treating it. You can read more about this in our article "Extraction of a deciduous tooth - when it is necessary".

Therefore, we always recommend prevention as the first step to avoid rotten teeth in your child. 

The first is regular and proper oral hygiene. It is important to get your child into the habit of brushing, but also flossing, from an early age. It is the lack of flossing that is one of the main causes of periodontitis, and this affects as many as 70% Poles!

And what you can do to make your child like daily hygiene oral cavity? Find the answer to this question in our article "10 ways to encourage your child to brush his teeth".

Secondly, to avoid rotten teeth in your child remember to eat a proper diet. Swap sweets for fruit and vegetables. Here again, habits are worth taking care of. And if your little one is already enthusiastic about sweets try to limit them and remember it is better to eat a few cubes of chocolate at once and brush your teeth than to snack on them for a long time. 

IMPORTANT: Remember, especially after brushing your teeth in the evening Your little one hasn't eaten anything or drunk sugary drinks. These coat the teeth and bacteria will continue to damage them throughout the night.

Thirdly, regular visits to the dentist. Unfortunately, prevention often ends with brushing teeth, which is far too little to prevent rotten teeth in children. A dentist is able to spot carious lesions or malocclusion at an early stage and recommend treatment. In addition, he or she will carry out preventive treatments to protect the teeth. You can read more about these in our article "Preventive treatments for the child". 

What if it is already too late?

Treatment of decayed teeth in a child

For various reasons, rotten teeth in a child may be a fact of life. You should then make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. As a reminder, the earlier you start treatment, the shorter the treatment will be, thus saving your child pain.

IMPORTANT: Every tooth, including milk teeth, should be treated!

In principle, the treatment of deciduous teeth is no different from the treatment of permanent teeth. In the case of caries, the tooth is cleaned and a filling is placed. It is possible that the dentist may also decide to provide root canal treatment. 

If a child struggles with inflammation in the mouth, which can be the result of an infection with viruses or bacteria, then the most common remedies are ointments or syrups. We wrote more on this subject in the article "Stomatitis in a child".

Finally, if your child's rotten teeth are the consequence of defects bite, orthodontic treatment will be necessary. Depending on the defect and age, your little one may be prescribed removable or fixed braces. And if this is where you are concerned about the cost of treatment - rest assured, we have a solution. "Instalment braces" - from this article you will learn more about how to take care of your child's healthy teeth and your household budget at the same time.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And we remind you that even if your child's teeth are healthy, it is worth making an appointment to see the dentist. First of all, visiting the dentist will not be associated with pain, but will become a healthy habit, in addition, the teeth will be under constant control. You can read more about this in the article "Your child's first visit to the dentist in the UK".