Babies Oral Care Can Prevent Future Cavities

A recent study performed by scientists from the University of Illinois confirms the presence of bacteria associated with early childhood caries (ECC) in infant saliva.  Now there is one more reason for parents to pay more attention to the oral health of their children.

Early childhood caries is a virulent form of caries, which is more often known as tooth decay or a cavity.  In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is the most widespread infectious disease among U.S. children.

"By the time a child reaches kindergarten, 40 percent have dental cavities," said Kelly Swanson, lead researcher and U of I professor of animal science.  "In addition, populations who are of low socioeconomic status, who consume a diet high in sugar, and whose mothers have low education levels are 32 times more likely to have this disease."

The researchers novel study focused on infants before teeth erupted, in comparison with most studies focused on children already in preschool age.

"We now recognize that the "window of infectivity," which was thought to occur between 19 and 33 months of age years ago, really occurs at a much younger age," he said.  "Minimizing snacks and drinks with fermentable sugars and wiping the gums of babies without teeth, as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, are both important practices for new parents to follow to help prevent future cavities."

"Improved DNA technologies allow us to examine the whole population of bacteria, which gives us a more holistic perspective," he added.  "Like many other diseases, dental cavities are a result of many bacteria in a community, not just one pathogen."

According to the study, researcher concluded that the oral bacterial community in infants without teeth was much more diverse than expected and identified numerous different species.

"The soft tissues in the mouth appear to serve as reservoirs for potential pathogens prior to tooth eruption," he said.  "We want to characterize the microbial evolution that occurs in the oral cavity between birth and tooth eruption, as teeth erupt, and as dietary changes occur such as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, liquid to solid food, and changes in nutrient profile."