How does tooth decay form? After the teeth grow out, the bacteria in the mouth stick to the tooth surface and form plaque on the tooth surface together with the mucin in saliva. The bacteria metabolize and ferment in the plaque to produce various organic acids, which accumulate in the plaque. The effect of the acid in the plaque on the teeth is to dissolve the calcium off the tooth surface, and over time, the tooth surface at the decalcification area forms a depression. The uneven tooth surface is more likely to form the plaque, and the pit becomes deeper and deeper, that’s how the tooth caries is formed. The harm of milk teeth caries The caries of milk teeth can cause the loss of several teeth, change the occlusal relationship between upper and lower teeth, disrupt the function, and affect the development of jaw bone and face. The long-term chronic periapical lesion of the baby teeth will affect the development of the inherited permanent tooth embryo and cause developmental disorder, and some of them will cause the permanent tooth embryo cyst and the permanent teeth cannot erupt normally. The crown of the baby tooth is destroyed, or the caries causes the baby tooth to fall out, so that the chewing force is reduced and the chewing function is lowered. The broken crowns and roots can stimulate the soft tissues of the mouth to form ulcers. Between the decayed milk tooth and the adjacent permanent tooth, it is easy to accumulate food and good to develop caries. Promote bad oral habits. The affected child is often reluctant to use the affected tooth to chew food because of pain, and the affected jaw bone lacks physiological stimulation, and the jaw bone development on both sides will be asymmetrical after a long time. When multiple milk teeth are involved, the appetite will be reduced and the digestion will be poor, which will affect the growth and development of the whole body. Chronic periapical inflammation caused by tooth decay can be called a lesion, and when the body resistance decreases, the bacteria transfer to other parts of the body to cause disease, such as arthritis and nephritis. The caries of front teeth looks unsightly and affects the pronunciation. It can produce psychological pressure on children. Thus, it is important to protect the milk teeth. Prevention of children’s caries We should start from the etiology, combine with the developmental characteristics of children and diet, hygiene habits and so on, and make a comprehensive analysis. Specific methods are summarized as follows: 1. Keep oral hygiene: brush teeth every morning and evening, rinse mouth after meal, and master the correct brushing method, it is appropriate to use the smooth brushing method. After the first milk teeth erupt, the mother should use sterilized wet gauze to clean the baby’s teeth. At the age of one to two years, parents can help brush the teeth with a fingertip toothbrush or a toddler toothbrush. From two and a half years old, the child can be taught the correct method of brushing teeth, and should brush teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and by six years old, the child can brush teeth by himself, but the parents should supervise. 2.Fluoride anti-caries: use fluoride toothpaste or use fluoride medication to coat in the hospital. Because young children often can’t spit out the residual toothpaste well, the fluoride in the body will lead to fluorosis if accumulated too much, such as dental fluorosis and bone fluorosis. Therefore, children’s toothpaste with low fluoride concentration should be used before the age of 8. 3.Socket closure: For the narrow and deep sockets, using sockets sealant can effectively prevent the occurrence of sockets caries. The time of closing the milk molar is appropriate at the age of 3-4. The time of closing the first permanent molar is 6-9 years old. 4.Limit the intake of sugar: eat less sweet food, avoid eating sweet food between meals (the rate of caries is higher if you eat sugar between meals), do not eat sweet food before going to bed, and wash your mouth after eating sugar or sweet food. 5.Dietary caries prevention: eat more fiber food, appropriate amount of protein, vitamin A, D and calcium, phosphorus, etc., can improve the anti-caries of teeth to prevent the occurrence of caries. 6.Actively treat the caries that has occurred. 7.Regular check-up: Take children to the hospital’s stomatology department for check-up regularly. Treatment of child caries The treatment of cavity (hard tissue defect) already formed includes filling treatment and root canal treatment. If the cavity is not deep to the pulp and there is no symptom of pulp infection, it can be treated simply by filling. If the damage is deep to the pulp, root canal treatment must be performed. Therefore, children’s caries should be detected early and diagnosed early and treated early in order to reduce the pain of children’s caries and the cost of caries treatment.