“What Can I Do About My Kids’ Rotten Teeth?”

In the United States, tooth decay is childhood’s most common chronic infectious disease.

More than half of 6- to 8-year-olds have had a cavity in at least one primary (“baby”) tooth. More than half of adolescents (ages 12-19) have had one in at least one permanent tooth.

Statistics like these mean plenty of American parents, guardians, and caregivers are asking, “Why are my kids’ teeth rotten, and what can I do about it?”

At Penn Dental Family Practice (PDFP), we have answers.

Keep reading for expert information and practical advice if you’ve ever asked, “Why does my child have rotten teeth?”

What Causes Tooth Decay in Children?

The same factors that lead to adults with rotten teeth can lead to kids with rotten teeth. The main culprits are too much sugar and starch in the diet and poor oral hygiene.

Bacteria in the mouth mingle with carbohydrates in foods, especially starchy and sugary foods, to form plaque, a sticky film that covers teeth. When plaque isn’t removed through brushing and flossing, it demineralizes tooth enamel and leaves the tooth’s inner layers vulnerable to decay.

Overall, U.S. diets, including American children’s diets, include too many processed starches and added sugars.

Sweetened drinks (soft drinks, fruit juices, fruit drinks, and sports and energy drinks), sweet baked goods, candy, and ready-to-eat cereals are among the major sources of added sugars.

Though starchy foods (white rice, white bread, pasta, chips, crackers, and more) may not taste sweet, bacteria in the mouth break the rapidly digestible starches in these foods and snacks into sugar. Research shows an association of rapidly digestible starch intake with increased risk of tooth decay.

Proper hygiene can mitigate the threat of sugars and starches to oral health. But the oral hygiene of America’s children isn’t what it should be, either. One study found “nearly 80% of children aged 3–15 years started brushing later than recommended.”

Causes and Warning Signs of Tooth Decay in Toddlers

Some adults assume a child’s baby teeth don’t need as much attention as permanent ones. But tooth decay in toddlers is a serious problem and can contribute to kids’ rotten teeth as they age.

Baby teeth have thinner, softer enamel than do permanent teeth. As a result, cavity-causing bacteria meet with less resistance.

Adult caregivers who’d never dream of harming infants and toddlers nevertheless fall into habits that put children’s baby teeth at risk of decay.

They may rely on bottles or training (“sippy”) cups filled with drinks other than water as pacifiers, or put children to bed with drinks. Both practices prolong sugars’ contact with teeth, whether those sugars are added sugars or the natural ones found in breast milk, cow’s milk, or juice.

Adults may also start serving juice to children too early. Children shouldn’t be drinking 100% fruit juice before their first birthday and should have limited daily intake throughout childhood.

Adults also may not limit how many sweet and sticky foods and snacks a child eats. As discussed, such foods directly contribute to tooth decay in children.

What are the symptoms of tooth decay in toddlers? It may first manifest as difficult-to-see white spots or a dull white band at the gum line. Eventually, the teeth may appear black or brown. Gums may swell. And toddler tooth decay can cause sensitivity and pain, as decay does in older children and adults.

Five Ways You Can Promote Children’s Healthy Teeth

So what can you do about your kids’ rotten teeth? Focus on these fundamentals of dental hygiene:

1. Begin cleaning your children’s teeth as soon as the teeth come in.

Clean your infant’s teeth by gently using a washcloth or finger toothbrush

2. Teach children to brush twice a day as soon as they can.

To fight tooth decay in toddlers, make brushing interesting and fun. Let them pick an age-appropriate toothbrush they like. Brush your teeth while your toddler brushes theirs, modeling good time (two minutes) and technique (soft, circular strokes, with bristles angled toward the gum line).

3. Use the right amount of fluoride toothpaste.

While children’s teeth benefit from fluoride as adults’ do, too much can cause a harmless, cosmetic condition known as dental fluorosis or “mottled teeth” before age 8, when permanent teeth are forming below the gums. Use only a smear of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice before age 3. From ages 3 to 8, use a pea-sized amount.

4. Encourage your children’s healthy eating and snacking.

Cut down on those sugary and starchy foods discussed earlier. Keep sweet treats to a minimum. Healthy eating benefits both oral and overall health.

5. Set and keep a regular dental care schedule for your child.

Children should visit a dentist by their first birthday, with checkups every six months thereafter. Getting your child into the rhythm of routine dental care is the best way to help them stay in that rhythm once they’re grown.

PDFP Treats Tooth Decay in Children Expertly and Easily

Which dental professionals should you trust to help get your kids’ rotten teeth whole and healthy again?

PDFP has extensive experience with young patients. Our specialists in pediatric dentistry offer gentle, child-friendly care to toddlers, older children, teens, and children with disabilities.

To find out more about how PDFP compares to other Philadelphia-area dental practices, download our free comparison chart.