Why is brushing necessary? - Thinking about baby tooth care from the "cause"

When you go to the dentist, you are often told things like,
“Let's brush your teeth,”
“Let's do finishing brushes for your child,”
“Let's cut back on sweets.”
I think you hear these things often.

“I have to brush them clean because if I don't, they'll get cavities,”
“I have to be careful because if they eat sweets, they'll get cavities,”
I think you understand this vaguely.

But do you know specifically “why” cavities form?
And why is brushing important from the baby tooth stage?

Today, I will dig a little deeper into the reasons for that.

Are you able to brush your teeth on busy mornings?

“I'm so busy in the morning getting ready... I only brush at night.”
I often hear this from parents of toddlers attending nursery school.
Mornings are truly hectic! There's no time for brushing! I understand that feeling well.

Cavities are a “bacterial” disease

Cavities (dental caries) are not caused just because you “ate sweets.”
The main causative bacteria for cavities isStreptococcus mutans. These bacteria stick to the surface of the teeth, create plaque, and break down sugar to produce acid.
This acid dissolves the teeth (demineralization), and holes form—this is the true nature of a cavity.

Streptococcus mutans is transmitted “from parent to child”

Actually, Streptococcus mutans is not present in newborn babies.
In many cases, it is transmitted from surrounding adults such as parents around the age of 1.5 to 3 years old (mother-to-child transmission).
Once it settles in the mouth, it often stays there forever, increasing the risk of cavities.

The 3 conditions for cavities (Keyes' triad)

Cavities occur when three conditions are met: “cavity bacteria,” “sugar,” and “tooth quality/time.”

・Cavity bacteria (bacteria living in the mouth)
・Sugar (sweets, juice, etc.)
・Tooth quality/time (long exposure to acid, weak teeth)

This 3-way overlap is what allows a cavity to progress.
In other words, the purpose of brushing is not just “removing food debris,” but
・Reducing cavity bacteria
・Removing plaque (clumps of bacteria) attached to the teeth
・Reducing the sugar contained in food debris.

Be careful because baby teeth are “weak against acid”

Baby teeth have only about half the enamel thickness of permanent teeth, so once a cavity forms, it progresses quickly and can grow without you noticing.

Toddlerhood is the time to “make it a habit”

Developing a “morning and night brushing habit” during the baby tooth stage leads to:

・Cavity prevention
・Establishing future self-care habits
・Building a foundation for healthy permanent teeth to grow in

It is important to practice letting your child hold a toothbrush, but it will be a while before a toddler can actually brush thoroughly. Finishing brushes by a parent are essential.

Summary

・Cavities are a disease caused by three conditions: "cavity-causing bacteria," "sugar," and "tooth quality/time."
・Mutans streptococci are often transmitted from parents to children.
・Brushing is necessary to reduce "bacteria" and "sugar," breaking the conditions for cavities.
・Baby teeth are vulnerable to acid and decay quickly, so care from early childhood is especially important.
・Finishing touches by parents protect the teeth of the future.

Knowing "why we brush" helps you realize that those few minutes on a busy morning have great significance. Let's start building "cavity-free habits" with your child from today.

I have summarized the in-depth content here!

This is a "manual for cavity prevention at home"
for moms and dads who feel that way.

▼ Explained in detail in this article