Human teeth have two stages of development. The first teeth are called the deciduous teeth, but you may to them as baby teeth. They begin to grow in in the early stages of human development and only last until early adolescence when the adult teeth come in. Parents commonly believe that cavities are an inevitable part of childhood, but this is a misconception. It would only be true if baby teeth were more likely to develop cavities. So are a child's baby teeth more prone to cavities than permanent teeth?
No Structural Causes
Every healthy human tooth is made of multiple layers of biological material. The layer that is exposed to the mouth is made of enamel. Under that lies a layer of dentin, which houses the pulp cavity and the root canal. These two parts supply blood to the tooth itself. It seems that even though they are smaller than adult teeth, baby teeth have no structural differences in the enamel or the dentin from adult teeth. So unless there is some history of genetic or congenital issues that weaken the enamel or dentin, baby teeth are as strong as adult teeth when it comes to resisting cavities.
There is one exception to this rule, but it affects the permanent teeth rather the baby teeth. When the adult teeth first emerge, these new teeth are weaker and more susceptible to cavities. It takes a few months for the enamel and dentin to completely harden, so careful brushing is extra important starting as young as age six.
Poor Dental Habits
While the teeth themselves are not weaker when it comes to resisting cavities, children's dental habitats can cause higher rates of cavities. If left alone to care for their teeth, a child dental health can decline quickly. The parents need to be responsible for the child's dental habits even as they grow into teenagers. They need to take charge and make sure the child is brushing and flossing properly every single day or the child will have more cavities regardless of how strong or weak their teeth are.
Long Term Effects
It is a common misconception that cavities in the deciduous teeth cannot affect the adult teeth. A cavity in a baby tooth can cause abscesses in the gum that directly transfers the infection to damage the underlying adult tooth. Poor oral health not only affects the teeth bu the entire health of the child. If a baby tooth is removed, the resulting gap changes the bite pattern and cause overcrowding among the adult teeth.
Contact a clinic, like Northwest Dental Services and Implant Center , for more help.
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