Cavities in Baby Teeth: Treatment, Prevention and FAQs (2026)

Leaving decay untreated in the belief that "the tooth is going to fall out anyway" is a serious mistake. Untreated decay:

• Causes pain and infection
• Can damage the adult tooth developing underneath
• Leads to early tooth loss and loss of space
• Affects a child's feeding and development

1. Bottle Decay (The Most Common Cause)

Falling asleep with a bottle is the single biggest cause of decay in young children:

• Milk or sweetened liquid sits on the teeth for hours
• Saliva flow drops during sleep, so natural cleansing stops
• It usually starts on the upper front teeth

2. A Sugary Diet

• Sugary snacks (biscuits, chocolate, sweets)
• Fruit juice (even natural sugars cause decay)
• Fizzy drinks

3. Poor Oral Hygiene

• Irregular or incorrect brushing
• Lack of parental supervision (parents should brush for their child up to age 6)
• No flossing

4. Bacterial Transmission

• From parent to child (sharing spoons, cleaning the dummy by mouth)
• Streptococcus mutans is transmitted in early childhood

Do Children Have Root Canal Treatment?

Yes — pulpotomy (partial pulp treatment) or pulpectomy (full pulp treatment) can be carried out on primary teeth. The aim is to:

• Avoid losing the primary tooth prematurely
• Preserve space for the adult tooth beneath
• Relieve pain and infection

Dental sealants (pit and fissure sealants) are thin protective coatings applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth:

• Reduce the risk of decay by up to 80%
• Painless and quick (5–10 minutes per tooth)
• Applied when the 6-year molars come through
• Protect for 3–5 years
• Price: 500–1,500 TL per tooth

💡 Recommendation: Arrange sealants as soon as the first permanent molars erupt at around age 6 — this is the most effective way to protect your child's back teeth from decay.

Professional fluoride varnish is one of the most effective ways to prevent decay in children:

• When: From the first tooth, every 6 months
• How: Varnish is painted onto the tooth surfaces
• Duration: 1–2 minutes, painless
• Effect: Strengthens the enamel and can arrest early decay
• Price: 500–1,500 TL per visit

1. No bottle at bedtime — the single most important step
2. Brush from the first tooth — smear of fluoride toothpaste
3. Parents should brush the teeth until age 6
4. Limit sugary snacks
5. Give water rather than juice
6. Six-monthly dental check-ups
7. Dental sealants on the 6-year molars
8. Fluoride varnish every 6 months
9. Don't share spoons or dummies (bacterial transmission)

If decay in a primary tooth is too advanced to save, extraction may be needed. However:

• Early extraction leads to loss of space
• A space maintainer should be fitted
• Orthodontic treatment may become necessary
• Where possible, restoring and preserving the tooth is always preferred

1. Tinanoff N, Baez RJ, Diaz Guillory C, et al. Early childhood caries epidemiology, aetiology, risk assessment, societal burden, management, education, and policy: Global perspective. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2019;29(3):238–248. PubMed
2. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Policy on early childhood caries (ECC). Pediatr Dent. 2016;38(6):52–54. aapd.org
3. Selwitz RH, Ismail AI, Pitts NB. Dental caries. Lancet. 2007;369(9555):51–59. PubMed

For your child's dental health, book a paediatric check-up at Maltepe Derya Dental Clinic.

📞 0216 572 05 20 💬 WhatsApp appointment

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a specialist for decisions about your oral and dental health.