Bacterial caries in children: photos, causes and treatment

Many parents mistakenly believe that baby teeth have natural immunity and therefore are not susceptible to various diseases.Unfortunately, such a disease as bottle caries is attacked by dairy, weakened and unformed teeth of children under 4 years old.

In the article we will consider the causes of this disease, its manifestation in toddlers, popular methods of treatment and prevention.

Causes of the disease

The effect of acids and toxins of pathogenic microorganisms enamel and hard tooth tissue begin to deteriorate and rot.Bacteria remain in the oral cavity after feeding carbohydrate and dairy food.

Let's consider the main causes of bottle caries in children( photo below).

1. Night feeding. Lactose is, in fact, milk sugar, that is, a simple carbohydrate, ideal for the development of microbes.It enters the baby's body from breast milk and special mixtures, regardless of the method of feeding( breast or bottle).
   

   Night feeding is one of the causes of the emergence of bottle caries

2. Weak immunity, qualitative saliva characteristics( low antibacterial effect).
   Normally, the baby's own protective forces can withstand oral microbes.Sometimes children who do not follow the hygiene of the mouth have a habit of eating sweets( especially at night), there is no caries, which indicates good antibacterial properties of saliva.
   These properties decrease due to systemic diseases( viral, fungal, bacterial, respiratory), intestinal infection, diabetes, etc.Illiterate compilation of a child's diet.
4. . Adolescent parents begin to offer sweetened cereals, shop juices and drinks, bakery and confectionery.Carbohydrates and sugar in their composition settle on the teeth and gums, provoking the growth of pathogenic microflora.Also, the structure of the teeth is worsened by the absence in the menu of solid food, which removes microbial deposits and stones.Solid vegetables and fruits, nuts and other products during chewing literally stifle plaque.Another gastronomic cause of tooth damage is the lack of fluorine, calcium and phosphorus in the body.These microelements can be obtained from dairy and fermented milk products, fish and offal.Lack of fluoride in the body.
5. . This microelement is responsible for the density and stability of the enamel, its ability to resist the destructive effects of organic acids and toxins.More micronutrients are obtained not from food, but from drinking water.In the case of a lack of fluorine( depending on the region of supply, brand of purchased water, etc.), the enamel becomes thinner and weaker, so that children's caries occur in most cases.
6. Heredity .It should be understood not only the genetic predisposition to early caries, but also the inattention of parents to the condition of the baby's teeth, the unwillingness to clean them before bed.

Symptoms of the disease

Dental caries of the front teeth in children

So, the early stage of the disease is characterized, as in adults, by the appearance of chalky matte spots on the teeth.As a rule, such spots are formed in the neck and roots, as the mineralization of enamel in these areas is insufficient.

After a while, the matte surface becomes uneven, rough to the touch.The defect on the enamel gradually deepens, the carious cavity is formed and darkens.Pathological processes spread all around the perimeter of the tooth.

The median form of is characterized by the coverage of adjacent teeth( usually the upper four, i.e. incisors and fangs).This is due to the instinct of sucking the baby, as in the process the tongue covers the dentition of the lower jaw, as if protecting it from contact with food and bacteria.At the same time, the upper teeth are actively involved in the process, so microbial deposits, food debris and organic acids settle on them.

Yellowish, brown and even black areas of appear on the affected teeth.The baby begins to complain of pain in the tooth after taking hot or cold food, consuming sweet and sour dishes.In the rest of the time, parents note the capriciousness and nervousness of the baby, the desire to pull into the mouth surrounding objects( toys, cutlery, and hands), touch the teeth and mouth.

Deep caries( late stage) is characterized by ubiquitous destruction of not only enamel but also dentin.Soft tissue intensely darkens under the influence of food dyes, pigments, toxins and organic acids, therefore, according to the degree of dentin staining, it is possible to talk about the depth of the lesion.

The effects of the bottle caries ( photo below) can be dangerous, since the infection can affect not only the baby teeth that will eventually fall out, but also the hidden rudiments of molars.In this situation, premature loss of the first molars may occur.

Methods for treating the disease

Untimely treatment of caries and children can lead to loss of the first teeth, changes in bite and speech defects

Each parent should be strictly aware of the fact that the milk teeth should be treated necessarily,When the problem "falls out" with them.This is due to the fact that all infections, fungal and viral lesions have the property to cover the area, rather than a specific goal, and also penetrate into the deep layers of hard and soft tissues.Untimely treatment of caries can lead to loss of the first teeth, changes in bite and the position of molars in the dentition, and speech defects.

In addition, blackened rotten teeth look very ugly and frightening, which can cause a number of ridicule over the baby, the formation of the first complexes.

In the early stages of the disease( white matte mint), the dentist resorts to restoring the enamel with remineralization.Parents can carry out the procedure themselves, applying professional means to the damaged tooth( R.O.C.S. Medical Minerals, GC Tooth Mousse and others).

It is also possible to perform the restoration of the enamel and the dentist with the help of infiltrants.Smoothing of the porosity of the surface occurs in 1-2 hours, as the procedure is quite painstaking, complex and involves the use of a rubber curtain( it is recommended to put a local anesthesia).

Along with mineralization, the deep fluoridation of in bottle caries is often prescribed.The procedure allows not only to restore the damaged tooth, but also to provide it with long-lasting resistance and resistance to microbes and acids.

Obsolete, but effective option of treatment and prevention of caries is the silvering of carious teeth.The procedure is painless and reliable, as it allows you to protect your teeth for up to 1 year.For this, an alloy layer of metallic silver and its salts is applied to the enamel.Ions have a bactericidal action and protect the tooth from various infections and bacteria.Cons: the need to renew the layer every 3-6 months, unaesthetic dentition( color in brown or black).

In the case of median caries, a standard treatment is performed - drill out the carious cavity and fill it with a composite seal.

Teeth of the child after silvering

Deep form is also treated with a drill and necessarily local anesthesia.The doctor drills the necrotic tissues of the enamel and dentin, conducts the sanation of the cavity of the tooth, pawns a potent bactericidal drug.After that, a special filling for baby teeth( based on glass ionomer cements, light hardening materials, etc.) is placed in the cavity.

Glass ionomers regularly produce fluoride doses, allowing you to restore the tooth even after installing the seal.Also, the service life of such materials coincides with the life-span of the milk teeth, which makes it possible to forget about caries for the entire period.

Prevention of disease

We examined how to treat a bottle caries if it has already manifested itself.

Remember that it is much easier and safer to follow the rules of disease prevention than to combat its manifestations and consequences.

1. Regardless of age, accustom the baby to the hygiene of the mouth of the , even if it is a single tooth.Infants up to one year of age can wipe the rudiments of milk teeth and soft tissue with a bandage or gauze swab dipped in green tea, a tooth rinse, a decoction of medicinal herbs.For kids, slightly older are used brushes with soft bristles, which are worn on the finger of the parent, as well as special bactericidal wet wipes with fluoride content.
   From the age of 2, teach your child to brush their teeth by themselves with a child's brush, and later with a fruit paste.
2. Periodically apply to the enamel anticaries and fluoridating gels , which will prevent the destruction of the upper layers and the penetration of bacteria.
   

   Teeth fluoridation

1. Observe the feeding regimen. Try to wean the baby from night feeding.It is also undesirable to feed the baby after the night hygiene of the oral cavity.
2. Adjust the ration of the child .To do this, remove from the menu the regular use of sweets, flour products, carbonated drinks, sugar and sugar candies.Accustom the baby to delicious and nutritious dishes from fish, fruits and vegetables.Often buy yogurt, other dairy and sour-milk products.
3. Let the child pull cutlery in his mouth with food leftovers, continue to suck the nipple after feeding.As early as possible, disaccustom the baby and the dummy.

Observance of these simple rules will save you, parents, from prolonged and, at times, painful treatment of the baby, will help to keep his memories of childhood happy.Do not forget to bring the child to the dentist even in the absence of objective symptoms.Sometimes a professional reveals pathology and disease at an early stage, which will reduce the treatment time and unpleasant emotions in the child.