Why Baby Teeth are More Vulnerable to Decay

Teeth are protected on the outside by a layer of enamel - the hardest substance in the human body. But the enamel on your children's tiny teeth is thinner than that in the permanent teeth, so once decay begins, it can do more damage, more quickly.

Decay happens when plaque acid eats away at the tooth below the surface where you can't see it. If this is left unchecked, a hole forms below the surface and eventually the surface will collapse and a cavity is formed. In the early stages, this won't cause your child any pain, and the dentist should be able to see it and stop it from developing into a bigger hole. This is another reason why regular dentist visits are so important.

Fluoride toothpastes are also important because they can help the tooth remineralize - that is, help prevent the hole from forming by replacing lost minerals in the enamel. However, if remineralization doesn't take place early on, the decay can continue to spread. At this point, your child could start getting a toothache. Once the surface of the tooth collapses, the cavity will need to be filled.

If the decay keeps spreading, the tooth may have to be removed. This is a worst-case scenario though, and with proper brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, a good diet and regular dentist visits your children's teeth should be just fine.