They are a feared companions in childhood but also when we grow up. Cavities develop when teeth deteriorate or break: a hole is formed that is made in a tooth and that, over time, can become larger and deeper.
Cavities are caused by dental plaque, a substance composed mainly of germs that cause teeth to deteriorate. Bacteria in the mouth make acids, so that when the plaque adheres to the teeth, the acids can attack the most superficial part, the enamel.
Sometimes acids break through dental enamel, attacking and corroding the innermost parts of the tooth, which will also deteriorate, and can cause pain.
The three main factors involved in caries It is the bacteria, sugars and susceptibility of each person, while the most useful procedures that prevent it are the use of fluoride, dietary measures, dental hygiene and the treatment of active lesions.
Although all children may suffer from tooth decay, there are risk groups that are more likely to develop it. Let's see what are the risk factors for dental caries in childhood.
Inadequate eating habits: sweetened pacifiers or teats; bottle sweetened to sleep; frequent ingestion of sugars and sugary drinks.
Factors related to dental hygiene: morphological alterations of the oral cavity (malformations, use of orthodontics); poor oral hygiene (poor personal oral hygiene or parents and siblings, major psychic disabilities, due to the difficulty of collaboration).
Xerostomy related factors (dry mouth syndrome): Sjogren's syndrome; ectodermal dysplasia.
Diseases in which there is a high risk in dental manipulation: heart disease; immunosuppression (including HIV); hemophilia and other coagulation disorders.
Socioeconomic factors: low socioeconomic status, especially if it is associated with bad hygiene habits.
Others: family history of caries; active caries, regardless of age.
It is important to do periodic check-ups for children to detect possible caries and take care of oral health since they are very young, encouraging them to brush their teeth and eat a healthy diet.
