Cavities Are Contagious!
- Cavities
- July 22, 2019
- Cedar Lodge Dental
Morgan Kuhlmann, RDH, BSDH
As a parent, have you ever shared a spoon with your child, or kissed them on the lips? Better yet, have you cleaned your child’s pacifier with your own mouth before returning it to them? Although this may not seem like it could be harming your kiddo, it might be.
Babies are born without the bacteria that causes cavities. They can acquire it from spit that is passed from their caregiver’s mouth to their own. We pass on these germs by sharing saliva. The two most common behaviors for parents to transfer saliva is by sharing eating utensils and by using their mouth to clean a baby’s pacifier. Other ways include chewing foods before feeding it to babies and sharing drinks or straws. This bacteria in saliva can start the process that causes cavities even before babies have teeth, so it’s important to avoid sharing saliva with your baby right from the start.
Also keep in mind that if you have multiple children, they could be spreading the disease to each other. It’s a good idea for them to each drink from their own cups. Remember that cavities are contagious!
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend a dental visit for children by age one. Baby teeth are vulnerable to tooth decay from their very first appearance, on average between 6 to 12 months. Here at Cedar Lodge Dental, we can see your child as soon as they get their first tooth.
Give us a call to schedule an appointment for your family members today!
