It is rare that a baby under one year already have cavities, but to prevent them we must begin to act even before the appearance of this disease.

What are the causes?
To see tooth must coexist several factors:

* Some bacteria (often considered an infectious disease).

* Presence of sugar in the mouth. Most foods contain different types of sugars or carbohydrates. For example, milk containing lactose or bread or cereals contain starch.

* The sugars and bacteria to coexist together in dental plaque for some time. Dental plaque is a thin layer composed of cells of the mouth and food debris, which are attached to the teeth, especially in the cracks between other teeth and gumline. That is where live bacteria that cause cavities.
The bacteria feed on sugars and produce acid substances as a waste that erode tooth enamel.

What are they like?
A caries begins as a mere speck in the tooth. At first, it appears that the enamel loses brightness and becomes more opaque. It soon becomes a small brown area where the enamel sinks.

The gap grows and deepens. You can destroy the entire visible portion of the tooth or it may be a small hole that penetrates to the root of the tooth.

Cavities start to hurt when they reach the pulp of the tooth, ie where the nervios.Subir

What do we do?
The first step is prevention from birth and before the baby teeth appear.

Small cavities in baby teeth can be covered with a layer of fluoride, known as “sealed.”

Once produced the cavity, the only solution is the filling. Dentists call it “curettage.”

Can complicate?
Some toddlers have cavities in all teeth. This causes them problems when eating. In this way, they cost a lot to chew food.

They are called baby bottle tooth decay to those in the front incisors of an infant. In general, are caused by the habit of putting honey or sugar on a pacifier or by continually giving sweet drinks like juice.

The other complication is the abscess. In children, infection of the root of a tooth, usually causes a lump in the gum that is filled with pus and can be opened, known as fistula.

Can it be prevented?
Although babies are born without teeth, inside your gums are already a few small sketches of what will be their baby teeth. These will be stronger if the mother takes a fluoride supplement throughout pregnancy.

When the baby is born, we must remember that:

* Breastfeeding promotes a better development of the jaws and teeth bottles.

* There should accustom the baby to use pacifiers. Avoid it if the child does not show too much emphasis, “hobby” or dependency. As children settle down or even better! when they take in their arms, talk to them or serve. Remember that you should never put honey, sugar or condensed milk on the pacifier to soothe a crying baby. If you get used to the sweet, when your teeth appear cavities are formed quickly.

* Bottles night. Although during the first months of life, babies tend to eat often, including during the night, after they get teeth is recommended not to give bottles of dawn. The reason is that while falling asleep at once, the language does not move and no “clean” the teeth. Then there are remnants of milk (with or without grain) may begin to favor Cairo.

* Dental hygiene should start from which the first teeth. Parents can use a handkerchief or a wet gasita to clean the teeth of the baby until 15-18 months. After that age, your baby wants to imitate adults and have their own toothbrush. He knows not brushing properly, it is time to begin to guide your hand to learn. Before age 4 should not use toothpaste, because it is going to swallow. This should be done after every meal, but at least once a day, before putting the child to sleep.

* Do not start the baby in the consumption of sweets or sweet drinks between meals offer.

How useful are the medicines?
Fluoride is a substance important in preventing tooth decay. In many places, water use food is supplemented with fluoride.

You may take the mother during pregnancy, and later, the baby can do it in the form of drops or tablets (dose depends on age, but also that the tap water has enough of this mineral).