Tooth Decay in Kids is Contagious – Tips from Intermountain Health to Stop the Spread

Cold and flu aren’t the most chronic infectious diseases affecting children. It’s tooth decay – and they can get if from their parents.

As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, tooth decay can begin. By age 5, about 60 percent of children nationwide will be affected by tooth decay, which leads to pain and infection in some cases.

Tooth decay is caused by factors including poor hygiene and diet, but what most people don’t know is that parents can pass their own cavity-causing bacteria to their babies.

“Cavities are contagious,” said Hans Reinemer, DMD, medical director of the pediatric dental residency program at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “If parents struggle with cavities, then the risk is passed to their children. There is a 9-fold increase in risk for a child’s decay when mothers have high levels of cavity causing bacteria in their own mouth.

Parents and caregivers need to take care of their own teeth so that cavity-causing bacteria are not as easily transmitted to children, starting in pregnancy, Dr. Reinemer said.

“Expectant mothers should brush, floss and visit a dentist regularly,” he said. “Additionally, parents should never clean pacifiers and eating utensils with their own mouths before giving them to children.”

Preventing cavities in children starts in infancy, Dr. Reinemer said. “Decreasing the frequency of your child’s sugar intake is an important step that parents can take right away.”

Here are some tips to protect your baby’s teeth:

• Don’t put a baby to bed with a bottle which increases the time sugar can negatively impact teeth.
• Wipe baby’s gums twice a day with a soft, clean cloth or a clean finger after the first feeding and before bedtime.
• Never dip a pacifier into honey or anything sweet before giving it to a baby.
• Don’t give babies bottles filled with juice.
• When teeth come in, gently brush them with a soft, small toothbrush and water.
• Encourage children to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday.
• Wean children from the bottle between 12-14 months of age.
• Take your child to a pediatric dentist by age 1.
• Visit the dentist every six months thereafter for a healthy mouth and teeth.

“The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental problems,” Dr. Reinemer said. “Children depend on healthy teeth for chewing, speech, spacing, growth and development, self-esteem and confidence. Start them now on a lifetime of good dental habits.

For more information, visit primarychildrens.org and Mychildrensteeth.org.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.