Dental caries: how to avoid its contagion The presence of cariogenic bacteria in the mouth does not cause the disease, but premature transmission can increase the chances that a baby will have cavities during childhood Dental caries… One of the most prevalent diseases in humans.
And, even so, many of its particularities are unknown, such as its contagion.
Because yes, tooth decay is contagious.
The mother is the greatest transmitter of dental caries to her baby.
The most everyday actions can lead to the presence of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus bacteria in your child’s mouth.
The earlier the infection occurs, the greater the chances of developing a disease that affects 60-90% of schoolchildren worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
What can we do to delay the transmission of tooth decay to the baby?
We’ll explain it to you at Clínica Cervera.
More than just bacteria The mere presence of the bacteria Streptococcus mutans and sobrinus in our mouths does not cause dental caries.
It is a multifactorial disease, so other factors are necessary for it to develop, such as lack of oral hygiene.
However, premature infection with cariogenic bacteria increases the chances of a baby having cavities during childhood, hence the importance of delaying it.
And, for this reason, you can take note of the following tips:
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Control your diet, even more so if you are pregnant.
Do not consume foods with sugars and complex carbohydrates outside of regular meal times.
You should also drink water or skim milk and avoid carbonated drinks.
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Be careful with nausea and vomiting.
We know that these symptoms are practically inevitable, but that doesn’t mean they stop eroding tooth enamel and making it more sensitive to cavities.
To try to avoid nausea and vomiting, we recommend consuming small amounts of nutritious and non-cariogenic foods throughout the day, such as fruits, dairy products, proteins or vegetables.
To neutralize the acid from the vomit, you can also rinse with water and apply enamel repair creams.
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You have to lead by example to enjoy good oral health.
The healthier our mouth is, the lower the risk of infection, hence the importance of good oral hygiene (brushing and interdental cleaning) and prophylaxis or professional cleaning.
Pregnant women must be even stricter in this regard, since hormonal changes increase the chances of suffering from pregnancy gingivitis, with all that this entails.
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Clean your baby’s mouth from the first days of life.
With a clean, damp gauze around your finger, at least once a day.
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End habits that can transmit bacteria.
How to clean the pacifier with saliva, blow directly on the food spoon to cool it, use the same cutlery to eat… Remember that our saliva contains bacteria that we can transmit to our baby.
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Don’t feed him right before bed.
Do not give your baby milk or juice before bed or let him fall asleep with a bottle in his mouth (“bottle syndrome”) as these are the main causes of tooth decay in babies.
The only food you should consume after oral hygiene is water.
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Visit the pediatric dentist when your child is one year old.
To detect and control possible potential problems.