What does this mean?
Baby teeth are only there for a time, but they matter for chewing, for speech and for holding the place of the adult teeth. Decay usually starts as a dull white band at the gum edge of the upper front teeth; over time it turns yellow or brown and forms a pit.
Because the enamel of baby teeth is thin, decay can advance quickly, and the child often does not complain of pain. That is why parents need to look at the teeth regularly. By the time pain starts, the decay has usually reached the nerve.
The most common cause is frequent, long contact with sugary liquid: sweet drinks in a bottle or sipper cup, a bottle at night, frequent snacking. Brushing that is too little or unsupervised adds to it. Once decay has formed a pit it does not go away by itself and needs treatment.
Four factors are common behind decay in baby teeth, and the child's diet, brushing habits and where the spot sits separate them.
Likely causes
What helps at home?
- Brush the teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste in the amount suited to the child's age, with an adult supervising
- Tie sugary drinks to mealtimes and do not let the child sip them through the day
- Do not put a sugary drink in the bottle at bedtime
- Look regularly at the gum edge of the upper front teeth; if you see a dull white or brown band, have it checked
- Swelling of the face or gum, or a bump on the gum
- Toothache together with a fever
- The child refusing to eat because of pain, or waking at night
- Decay that grows quickly, or a tooth that breaks
Frequently asked questions
- Baby teeth fall out anyway; does decay need treatment?
- Yes. Decay in a baby tooth can cause pain, infection and harm to the developing adult tooth. Losing a tooth early can also upset the place of the adult teeth, so decay in baby teeth is treated too.
- Is the white spot on my child's tooth decay?
- A dull white band at the gum edge can be the earliest stage of decay. If there is no pit at that stage, it can be halted with brushing and fluoride care. A dentist tells what the spot is at an examination.
- When should a child first see a dentist?
- A check is advised from the time the first tooth comes through, or at the latest around the age of one. An early visit lets the dentist guide you on diet and brushing before any decay starts.
This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Symptoms overlap between conditions, and a diagnosis can only be made clinically.