HOW NURSING MOTHERS DESTROY THEIR CHILDREN'S TEETH

Nursing mothers engage in the use of pacifiers to prevent their children from crying, however the use of wrong pacifiers are employed hence rampant caries in which almost all the baby teeth are destroyed by caries. This condition is referred to as Rampant caries, Nursing bottle caries or early childhood caries (ECC) depending on the affected teeth , location on tooth and number of affected teeth. Rampant caries is an aggressive and rapidly progressing type of disease (Silverstone et al, 1981) necessitating caution in feeding habits and oral health care of children. The contents of the feeding bottles of babies are almost always sweet liquid, majority of which are refined carbohydrates which serves as substrates for microbial action and eventual caries formation. As the feeding bottle or breast lies in baby’s mouth while baby sleeps off, continuous presence of carbohydrate in the mouth in the presence of the teeth over a period of time completes the requirement of formation of dental caries. Caries form on many of the teeth and presents as yellow or black coloration in baby’s mouth at the same time.


Rampant caries

Routes of Transmission
1. The causative organism, mostly Strept. mutans may be transmitted vertically from mother/ caregiver to child through salivary contact. This is affected by the frequency and amount of exposure as well as levels of strept. mutans in the mouths of mother/caregiver.
2. Horizontal transmission (e.g. between other members of a family or children in daycare) also occurs.
The effects of early childhood caries (ECC) include:
- Higher risk of new carious lesions in both the primary and permanent dentitions
-Hospitalizations and emergency room visits
-Increased treatment costs
-Risk for delayed physical growth and development
-loss of school days and increased days with restricted activity
-Diminished ability to learn
-Diminished oral health related quality of life
Prevention of early childhood caries
1. Milk or water should constitute the majority of drinks given to young children
2. Serve sweet drinks only at meal time
3. Do not leave infants alone with any drink
4. Never use drinks on a dummy as a pacifier
5. Avoid the use of feeding bottle,and replace it with a spoon and cup
6. Do not give drinks at bedtime or during the night.
7. Brush their children’s teeth with a small pea sized amount of a low dose fluoride toothpaste .

References

1. http://www.edinburghdentist.co.uk/Dental%20PDF%20files/rampant.pd

 

2. http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/P_ECCClassifications.pdf

 

3. Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Classifications, Consequences, and Preventive Strategies. A collaborative effort of the American Academy of Pedodontics and the American Academy of Pediatrics

4. Berkowitz RJ. Mutans streptococci: Acquisition and transmission. Pediatr Dent 2006;28(2):106-9.