Children's bottle caries: why it occurs and how to treat it

According to statistics, by the age of six, approximately 70% of children have dental caries. A large percentage of young children are susceptible to developing so-called bottle caries. What kind of disease is this, why it occurs and whether it can be cured, we will tell you in the article.

The mechanism of caries development in children
What is bottle caries in children?
How to treat bottle caries?
How bottle caries is treated using remineralization method
Treatment of bottle caries using fluoridation
Treatment of bottle caries using the ICON method
Is silver plating safe for children?
Ozone therapy treatment
What to do if there is a hole in your tooth?
What should be done to prevent bottle caries?

The mechanism of caries development in children

Caries is a slowly occurring pathological process in which the destruction of hard dental tissues occurs. It can affect both baby and permanent teeth and occurs in adults and children of any age.

It is known that caries develops under the influence of several factors - both external and internal. The main cause of carious lesions is the activity of cariogenic bacteria. They coat the teeth with a biofilm we call plaque. Bacteria feed on carbohydrates that enter our body with food. They ferment sugars and convert them into acids, which have a negative effect on superficial and deep dental tissues. If plaque is not removed from the surface of the enamel in time, the acids will destroy its structure and sooner or later penetrate into the dentin - the bone tissue under the enamel. Thus, it is organic acid, a product of bacterial activity, that has a damaging effect on teeth.

There are factors that increase the risk of developing caries. These include:

Prevention methods

Hygiene is the most important rule when it comes to preserving teeth. It is not recommended to feed children immediately before bed, but if you still have to do this, immediately after feeding your mouth should be treated with a special napkin or a children's toothbrush. If you use sugary children's medicines (for example, cough syrups), you should also brush your teeth afterwards.

The diet should contain fewer sweet foods that cause caries. For drinking, it is recommended to use clean water more often, and sometimes, on the recommendation of a doctor, fluoridated water.

What is bottle caries in children?

Childhood caries can occur for various reasons. One of the most common forms of the disease does not occur in adults, but is characteristic of young children. This is the so-called baby bottle caries. Another name is circular. What are its features and reasons?

The main cause of bottle caries can be understood from the name - long-term feeding of a child from a baby bottle with a pacifier. The disease is also typical for children who have been breastfed for a long time.

The essence of the problem is as follows. When a baby is given a bottle and breastfeeding before bedtime or nap time, baby's teeth are left with large amounts of sweet carbohydrates, a food source for bacteria. At the same time, at night the amount of saliva in the mouth decreases, which has a bactericidal effect and could at least partially protect the teeth. It turns out that all night or several hours during the day, while the child is sleeping, there are food remains in the oral cavity, which microbes happily convert into acid. At the same time, the enamel of children's teeth is not yet as strong as that of adults. Therefore, caries begins and spreads much faster. In just a few months or even weeks, it can go from early stage staining to deep dentin damage.

The peculiarity of bottle caries is that most often it affects the front incisors: whitish spots appear on them in the contact areas and near the gums. This is due to the peculiarities of gripping a bottle or the mother's breast when feeding. The circular arrangement of bottle dental caries on the front teeth, in areas of contact with food, gave it the name circular. This type of caries is often diagnosed in a one-year-old child who continues to eat from a bottle, although he can receive complementary foods from a spoon. In addition to babies of the first year of life, children's bottle caries can appear in two- and three-year-olds, who are allowed to eat sweets and drink juices more than three times a day. The mechanism of dental damage is the same as with bottle feeding.

Dangerous consequences

You know what to do if your child has bottle tooth decay. What will happen if it is not treated? Untreated disease in time will lead to serious consequences. The presence of constant inflammation will cause severe pain, due to which the baby will not be able to sleep. Intermittent sleep will cause overwork, which, in turn, will weaken the immune system and cause various diseases, including mental ones, and will also affect the overall development of the child. An infection that is not stopped in time will lead to inflammation of not only the hard, but also the soft tissues of the tooth, and will also damage the rudiments of the molars. The long absence of molars, in turn, will affect the diet, cause speech defects, malocclusion and, as a result, changes in the child’s appearance. Moreover, the infection is likely to spread beyond the mouth, to the throat and lungs and cause respiratory problems. In order to avoid such a terrible development of events, it is necessary to treat bottle caries in time, and even better, to prevent its occurrence.

Prevention measures

In order to avoid circular caries, first of all, you need to stop feeding your baby before bed. If the child cannot sleep on an empty stomach, before going to bed, wait until the baby burps, and then thoroughly clean the baby’s mouth with a special toothbrush or napkin.
Reduce the amount of sweets and replace high-sugar juices with water, preferably fluoridated. Fluoride is very beneficial for children's teeth, but only in certain quantities. Therefore, we recommend that you contact your pediatric dentist and, together with him, choose a toothpaste that is suitable for your baby, enriched with this substance.
In addition, experts urge parents not to overuse sweet cough syrups - they are one of the main causes of caries. After using them, do not forget to rinse your child's mouth and brush his teeth.

How to treat bottle caries?

Treatment of children with bottle caries is carried out using different methods, depending on the age of the child, the stage of development of the disease, and the technical capabilities of the dental clinic. There are two main approaches to treatment - conservative and surgical. The first involves treatment without preparation, drilling the tooth with a drill, or installing a filling. These are non-invasive and completely painless methods. But, unfortunately, they are effective only in the early stages.

Much more often it is necessary to carry out surgical treatment, in which the tooth is opened and a filling is installed. This is due to the fact that in most cases, bottle caries is diagnosed too late - when the tooth already has cavities and preparation cannot be done without.

Stages of disease development

At the initial stage, the manifestations of the disease may be invisible: this is what makes the disease dangerous. When the defect becomes visible to the naked eye, bottle caries is already gaining strength and affects several teeth. Therefore, it is extremely important to know about the first signs in order to stop the development of the disease in time.

The initial stage is characterized by the appearance of white spots on the teeth. No painful sensations are observed. Many parents think that the stains are the result of an injury (for example, when a child chewed on a toy) and do not consult a doctor.
The superficial stage begins when the baby begins to experience pain when eating sweet and sour foods. The spots turn yellow or acquire a brownish tint (for this reason they can easily be confused with plaque).
During the middle stage, depressions with uneven edges appear on the tooth enamel (as a rule, the defect is located near the gums). The pain makes itself felt when eating cold or hot food, and sensitivity to sweets appears.
If the disease has reached a deep stage, dental changes become visible even to a layman. The affected tooth begins to resemble an apple core, and pain occurs when pressure is applied. If treatment is not started as soon as possible, the child may lose a tooth, which will affect the ease of chewing.

How bottle caries is treated using remineralization method

Early bottle caries can often be found on the teeth of children aged 10-20 months. Signs of carious lesions at this stage are white spots on the enamel and in the area of contact of the dental crown with the gum and adjacent jaw. A small child does not show any signs of anxiety, because teeth with early caries do not hurt or cause discomfort. To notice the lesion, parents should regularly examine the baby’s mouth and, if they detect changes in the enamel, immediately contact the dentist.

For early caries in children, treatment will consist of strengthening the enamel, restoring its mineral composition and stopping further pathological process.

There are different options for treating caries without a drill. One of the methods is remineralization therapy. The mineral composition of tooth enamel consists of 57% calcium and phosphorus. When these substances are not enough, gradual destruction of the enamel structure occurs. Retherapy is carried out to restore its normal mineral composition and strength. For the purpose of remineralization, the surface of the teeth is covered with gels, pastes and other preparations with calcium and phosphorus. To consolidate the result, the dentist may prescribe additional fluoride-containing medications. They reduce the solubility of tooth enamel, prevent the leaching of calcium, and increase its resistance to acid.

In order for retherapy to give the expected result, a number of conditions must be met. Firstly, remineralizing compounds are applied only to teeth that have been cleaned of plaque, because they must come into contact with the enamel. Secondly, the contact must be long-lasting. Thirdly, minerals must be present in them in the form of phosphorus and calcium ions.

Correct retherapy, which will give the best results in the treatment and prevention of bottle caries, can be carried out by a qualified dentist.

Types of caries

White spots appearing on the enamel. This is the very initial stage of caries, which is indicated by the appearance of white spots - foci of demineralization. At this stage, the dental tissue has not yet begun to deteriorate, and only chalky stains indicate that not everything is normal. However, if you ignore the appearance of these spots and do not contact your dentist, the enamel will continue to suffer from a lack of calcium and, as a result, deteriorate.
Painless superficial caries - damage that affects the enamel and does not harm the underlying dentin. If such caries is not treated, it will move to the next stage.
Medium caries is damage to the enamel and dentin underneath. If you allow cariogenic organisms to get close to the dentin, tooth destruction will occur much faster, since the bone substance of the tooth is softer in structure than the enamel.
Deep caries, when a thin layer of dentin remains. If the dentin becomes completely thin, then caries will affect the pulp of the tooth, which will cause a lot of pain to the child.

Bottle caries is one of the types of dental damage. The term comes from a bottle of drink (usually sweet) that is often within a child's reach at night. These carious formations affect the upper incisors.

If caries is ignored and no measures are taken to eliminate it, complications may arise. Average caries, left unattended, will lead to the penetration of microorganisms into the pulp, which will cause pulpitis (characterized by severe pain that does not even allow you to sleep) and periodontitis (it is distinguished by the formation of a lump or fistula on the gum, filled with pus).

Treatment of bottle caries using fluoridation

A disease such as bottle caries can be cured at an early stage using simple or deep fluoridation.

The essence of fluoridation is that tooth enamel is saturated with fluoride - a substance that reduces tooth sensitivity, strengthens the enamel, and makes it less susceptible to negative external influences.

With simple fluoridation, a fluoride-containing composition is applied to the teeth, which forms a thin protective film. With deep fluoridation, in addition to fluorine, the preparations include calcium and other compounds. Their complex action promotes the penetration of beneficial substances into the enamel structure and strengthens it from the inside.

After fluoridation, teeth become less sensitive, the surface of the tooth enamel becomes smoother, less plaque accumulates on the teeth, and light and dark spots disappear.

Why does tooth decay occur?

The destruction of dental tissue is due to several reasons:

Violation of the diet and rules of nutrition. Parents often ignore the feeding recommendations of the doctor observing the child, giving the baby food at his first request (without following the regime) and placing a bottle with a sweet drink next to the baby’s crib so that the child can drink whenever he wants and not scream. Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that is the main raw material for the formation of acid, which has a destructive effect on teeth. As a result, cariogenic organisms are always provided with the raw materials to create acid.
Poor hygiene. If you do not teach your child to brush their teeth twice a day, this may subsequently result in the formation of microbial plaque. It is better to prevent caries than to treat it: the best prevention is a properly organized diet and proper care of the gums and teeth.
Infection with cariogenic organisms. The oral cavity of a newborn person is sterile. The cause of the appearance of cariogenic microflora can be parents who taste food with a spoon, which they then give to the child without washing it, and kiss him on the lips.
Insufficient mineralization. The enamel of the first teeth contains practically no calcium. Proper hygiene, as well as the use of pastes that contain calcium or fluoride, gradually strengthen it. However, if you do not follow a diet and brush your teeth incorrectly, the enamel will not strengthen and will begin to lose calcium, which will inevitably lead to caries.

Treatment of bottle caries using the ICON method

Children over three years old with early stages of caries can be treated with a minimally invasive infiltration method. It is absolutely safe, but requires sitting still for about 20 minutes, so is not suitable for younger children.

The essence of the ICON method is that after preliminary preparation, damaged tooth enamel is coated with a sealant gel. It penetrates the pores of the enamel, seals them and prevents bacteria and acid from penetrating deep into the tooth.

Causes

Before prescribing treatment for bottle caries in children (photos are presented in the article), it is necessary to find out why it occurred and eliminate unfavorable factors, if possible. It should be noted that there are often several reasons for the development and spread of pathology.

Poor hygiene

It is necessary to care for the oral cavity from the moment the first incisor appears. For the little ones, silicone tips are suitable, which parents put on their fingers for subsequent cleaning. Older children, on their own or with the support of adults, brush their teeth with soft-bristled brushes.

Remains of food and plaque should be removed regularly. Food that remains on surfaces is a favorable environment for the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. Bacteria cause tooth decay in combination with reduced immunity and changes in the composition of saliva.

Night feedings

This is the most common cause of the disease, which at first glance seems quite harmless. When a child sleeps, saliva secretion decreases. The secretion becomes insufficient to adequately protect the oral cavity. After feeding at night, the bacterial flora actively spreads, and parents do not have the opportunity to brush the baby’s teeth, because to do this they will have to wake him up and put him to bed again, which takes a lot of time.

Diet errors

An improper diet plays a decisive role in dental health. Pathological microorganisms appear very quickly if you eat a lot of baked goods, confectionery products, and sugar.

Store-bought juices pose the greatest danger. Even when diluted with water, tooth enamel will gradually corrode and become thinner.

If there is a deficiency of potassium and fluoride in the body, the disease progresses faster. Insufficient consumption of solid foods (for example, apples), which naturally cleanse teeth, also has an impact.

Reduced immunity

Against the background of a sharp decrease in immune defense, pathological conditions worsen. It is this factor that can become a “trigger” for the onset of the disease. The child's body is not able to fully respond to the attack of pathogenic agents, which leads to the progression of the disease and subsequent destruction of the units.

Congenital pathologies

Diseases of the expectant mother, hereditary factors, and intrauterine disorders negatively affect the structure of tissues, including bones. In rare cases, enamel may be completely or partially absent at birth. As a result, dentin and dentition in general are more susceptible to destruction.

Violation of personal and household hygiene

Caries is contagious. Few parents think about the fact that a seemingly harmless kiss on the lips of a child can provoke dental pathology. In this way, microbes are transmitted, leading to destructive processes.

The disease occurs when using the same cutlery, dishes, or when the mother licks the pacifier when it is dirty.

Is silver plating safe for children?

The superficial form of bottle caries most often occurs in children between 16 and 24 months. At this stage of the lesion, dentin is exposed - the hard tissue of the tooth located under the enamel, the enamel becomes more sensitive. Gradually, carious spots change shade: instead of light, they become dark. Caries at this stage is also treated with remineralizing therapy, fluoridation, and infiltration. In some cases, it is advisable to carry out silvering.

Although this method is considered outdated and has a negative impact on the aesthetics of teeth (they darken), silver plating is still used in pediatric dentistry.

The essence of the method is that the surface of the teeth is coated with silver nitrate. It forms a film on the teeth that has an antimicrobial effect. Silvering does not cure bottle caries, but it can stop its development for a certain period of time.

Possible complications

Bottle caries has serious consequences. Many parents believe that it is pointless to treat baby teeth, because they will be replaced by permanent ones. As a result, the disease becomes advanced. It is important to understand that the infection can affect the rudiments of molars, which will erupt with caries. In addition, the pathological process on one milk tooth quickly spreads to the rest, and multiple caries appears. The infection can deepen, affecting the pulp (neurovascular bundle of the tooth) and peri-root tissue. As a result, the disease leads to premature loss of baby teeth, malocclusion, and impaired eruption of permanent dentition.

What to do if there is a hole in your tooth?

The above methods will help cure caries in the initial stage, when there is no cavity in the tooth. As soon as a hole has formed in the dentin, this means that caries has entered the medium or deep stage. In this case, treatment is carried out surgically.

The affected teeth are prepared, cleaned, dried, the cavity is prepared for the installation of a filling, and then filled with modern composite materials.

Children of any age do not like to visit dentists; some of them are difficult to even sit in a dental chair, let alone carry out treatment with a drill. This is why early diagnosis is so important, which is only possible with regular visits to the dentist.

Diagnostics

Bottle caries is diagnosed by a pediatric dentist during a visual examination using a mirror and probe. A specialist can determine the disease at the chalk stain stage by drying the tooth surface, stomatoscopy in UV light, and also by using vital staining of the enamel.

There are several main criteria for diagnosing bottle caries:

the child's age is less than 3–4 years;
night breastfeeding or bottle feeding;
damage to the upper incisors, canines;
Poor oral hygiene: irregular or incorrect procedures.

In some cases, an x-ray is additionally required to make a diagnosis. It allows you to assess the depth of tooth damage and detect complications such as periodontitis or pulpitis. If the doctor has reason to suspect enamel hypoplasia or other types of caries, a differential diagnosis is carried out.

What should be done to prevent bottle caries?

The development of bottle caries can be avoided if you monitor children’s teeth from early childhood and take comprehensive preventive measures:

Teeth brushing begins immediately with the eruption of the first tooth. In the first year, you should use a soft brush without toothpaste or with a small amount of children's toothpaste. After a year, teeth are brushed with toothpaste; dentists also recommend using dental floss.

In order to prevent tooth decay, you should not bottle feed your baby for a long time. When introducing complementary foods, it is advisable to immediately teach the baby to eat with a spoon from a plate. A similar recommendation applies to those children who are bottle-fed.
Do not feed children before bed or during the day, and do not leave bottles in the crib for the baby to suck on throughout the night.
Instead of sweet drinks, introduce your child to clean water and unsweetened tea.
To avoid the transfer of cariogenic bacteria from an adult to a child, you should not share a spoon with children or give a child a pacifier from your mouth.
In order to promptly notice pathological changes in the structure of the enamel and the condition of children's teeth, visit the dentist at least once every six months, even if it seems that the child has no signs of caries.
Dental caries in children develops rapidly, and it is better for the dentist to once again confirm the healthy state of the oral cavity than to immediately detect pulpitis.

These simple recommendations will protect children's teeth from bottle caries and help maintain a beautiful smile.

Prevention and treatment at home

Recommendations for parents on preventing bottle caries:

teach your child the basic rules of hygiene - starting from 1.5 years old, the child is already able to master brushing his teeth;
use special remineralizing gels for children (ROCS Medical Minerals, GC Tooth Mousse, etc.) - they restore the enamel at the stage of formation of a chalky spot;
watch your diet - less sweets and flour, more natural products - vegetables, fruits, herbs;
wean your child off the bottle, replace the sweet drink with regular boiled water;
You shouldn’t lick your baby’s pacifier or spoon – your bacteria are harmful to children’s teeth.