Raising truly healthy kids …with beautiful, healthy smiles

by Dr. Mark Gaponiuk

When it comes to children’s dental care, parents play an active and crucial role in achieving a healthy mouth for their children. The mouth is a dynamic environment with many competing factors. For example, in order for tooth decay to occur there needs to be three things. First there needs to be a host (i.e., a tooth). Secondly, there needs to be substrate (i.e., fermentable sugar). Finally, there needs to be substance (i.e., microorganisms). When all three are present, tooth decay can result. However, a parent affecting any one of these three factors will discourage the tooth decay process.

By the age of 2, most children will have 20 teeth. These “baby” teeth are not only important to maintain for the child to chew his food (the first step in digestion), but also for speech and facial development and to maintain position of the yet-to-be-erupted permanent teeth. Enamel is the hardest substance in our bodies, and it provides a hard surface for the initial breaking down of food. Enamel also protects the tooth against bacterial invasion. There are some dental developmental abnormalities that can cause the enamel not to fully calcify, causing teeth to be “soft.” A dentist will identify and monitor enamel problems and inform parents of these areas and how to further care for them.

The mouth is full of bacteria. The bacteria “live” in plaque, which is a thin layer of sticky film found along all surfaces of the teeth. The bacteria digest fermentable sugars and starches and produce an acid as a waste product. Acid in the mouth decalcifies the enamel, and unless this etching process is halted, will continue to the softer dentin layer. This is when a cavity occurs. Unless a dentist removes the infected part of the tooth, the decay will spread until it eventually infects the nerve and blood vessels of the tooth. Brushing a child’s teeth with a toothbrush mechanically removes this sticky plaque and lowers the overall bacterial count in the mouth. Toothpastes act as a detergent to chemically break down the plaque. Keep in mind, most children do not spit out very well, so don’t use a toothpaste they shouldn’t swallow (see page 5 for safe toothpaste suggestions).

A healthy diet is extremely important in maintaining a child’s mouth. By reducing fermentable sugar in a diet, less acid is produced by bacteria. It takes around 20 minutes for the saliva to neutralize the acid in the mouth once a fermentable sugar is eaten. That is why snacking can be so destructive for a child’s teeth. A chocolate bar eaten at one time will cause bacteria to produce 20 minutes of corrosive acid. If you nibble on that same chocolate bar for an hour, the bacteria now produce an hour and twenty minutes of destructive acid. A condition called “baby bottle tooth decay” results when a sippy cup is filled with a drink with a fermentable sugar, and given to the child to sip on throughout the day. That is why sippy cups should be filled with water, and bottles should not be left with the child in bed. Some snacks in and of themselves are acidic, further decalcifying enamel. Such snacks include carbonated soft drinks and some acidic fruit juices.

Good snacks like cheese and nuts offer a healthy snack option for parents. They provide nutrients needed for the development and strengthening of enamel, and facilitate saliva’s ability to neutralize acid in the mouth. Xylitol, a sugar-alcohol derived from birch trees, is a naturally occurring, low-calorie sugar substitute. It doesn’t promote tooth decay, and inhibits the bacteria that can cause tooth decay. It can be found in products such as gum, mints, and can also be purchased in bulk form. Actively participating in a child’s diet and hygiene along with routine dental exams are the building blocks to a lifetime of optimal dental health.

Dr. Mark Gaponiuk, DMD practices dentistry in Avis, PA. He joined Dr. Jay Gaunt, DDS at Gaunt Family Dentistry in 2002 because of the amalgam free and holistic approach to dentistry. Dr. Gaponiuk has received bachelor degrees in Natural Science and Fine Arts from the University of South Florida and his doctorate from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia, PA. He and his wife Kim have been married for 10 years and live in McElhattan, PA with their 5 children.