Good oral health contributes to a healthy smile, teeth and gums. On the other hand, poor dental hygiene can put you at risk for tooth decay, also known as tooth decay or rotting tooth. If baby teeth are lost too soon, the remaining teeth can move and leave no room for an adult's teeth to come out. In addition, if tooth decay is not prevented, it can be costly to treat, cause pain, and lead to life-threatening infections.
Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars in foods and beverages. These bacteria produce acid, which damages the outer surface of the tooth (the enamel). Saliva helps repair this damage, but if there is more damage than repair over time, it leaves a cavity or “hole” in the tooth. Even babies can have cavities.
Putting a baby to sleep with a bottle can damage a baby's teeth. Sugars in juice, formula, or milk that stay on your baby's teeth for hours can corrode enamel (the layer of the tooth that protects against decay). This can cause cavities in the mouth of the bottle or bottle. When this happens, the front teeth may discolor, prick, and itch.
Cavities can form and, in severe cases, decayed teeth may need to be removed. Mihiri's research has been supported by the NIH National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NHMRC, Bonnie Babes Foundation, Children's Financial Markets Foundation, Government of Victoria Operational Infrastructure Support Program, Pediatric Society of Australia and New Zealand Dentistry Victorian Branch and the University of Melbourne Pediatric Dentistry Fund.
