Dental Talk Thursday | Cavity Prevention for Infants
For
this weeks Dental Talk Thursday we are going to be talking about vertical transmission and little known ways on how to help prevent your infant from getting a cavity.
Believe it or not, babies
are actually born with sterile mouths, therefore, it’s important to be careful in
preventing the vertical transmission of cavities.
Yes, dental cavities are an
infectious and transmissible disease. Mutans streptococci play the major role
in this development and has been shown in several studies to be a key risk
factor for early childhood cavities and even the development of future cavities.
Vertical
transmission from mother to child has been found to be the main pathway for
mutans streptococci. However, several studies indicate that it can also occur from
other individuals that are around the child such as the father, sibling, etc.
The teeth do not have to be
erupted yet for this transmission to successfully occur.
That’s right, it can
happen even before any of the teeth actually break through the gums.
Here's a scary fact: A child whose mother has a
high level of this bacterium is about 9 times more likely to develop cavities.
This is most critical in
their first two years of life as the earlier a child colonizes the bacteria,
the higher the risk for cavities becomes.
This transmission can occur
several ways such as through sharing utensils, “cleaning off” binky’s with your own
mouth, letting your child use your toothbrush, and even kissing.
This is why it is so important
for expectant mothers to visit their dentist and get any active dental disease
under control; not just for the cavity sake but also for the health of the gums. (As a side note, gingivitis can increase the
chances of pre-term, low birth weight babies.)
***While I am not a mother, I
do understand that it’s completely unrealistic to expect a parent not to kiss
their child’s precious little lips. Therefore, I will offer
some other tips on how you can reduce the amount of bacteria you share.
Tip #1: Look for dental
products containing xylitol as it is a natural sweetener that is proven the
kill the bacteria that causes cavities. It can be found in toothpastes, mouth
rinses, spray, gum and even pacifiers. I would suggest looking for Spry or
Xlear products if you can. Ice Breakers Ice Cubes also contains it but when
looking at those types of products look at where “xylitol” lands on the
ingredient list. In order to get the most efficacy out of it, it should be one of the first 3
ingredients.
Yes, it is safe for all age
groups, however, it is not safe for dogs so keep them away from it.
Tip #2: If you are still
pregnant, look into your dental insurance coverage. On top of the two cleanings
a year that your insurance covers, some insurance companies will cover an additional
one while you are pregnant for extra protection. If they do not cover it, you
can still consult with your dentist about coming in for the third one. Unfortunately, you would have to pay out of pocket but they might offer a small discount.
Tip #3: Avoid “cleaning” a
pacifier or bottle that has fallen on the ground by placing it in your mouth as
that is transferring the bacteria. Also, Pre-chewing food for your child or blowing
on hot food to cool it down can spread the bacteria, too.
By taking these precautions
we can help prevent early childhood cavities; the number one chronic childhood disease.
- Rachel Faul,
Registered Dental Hygienist
*Stay tuned for next weeks "Dental Talk Thursday" over at Facebook.com/RachelFaulFitness at 7:30pm EST
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