Why bacteria show up in your child's mouth!👶
Babies are born without cavity-causing bacteria in their mouths, so they don't get cavities. But over time, these bacteria can be passed on from close family members such as parents, grandparents, and siblings.
In particular, the people who spend the most time close to the child, like mom and dad, easily become the main route for transmitting cavity-causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans).
This transmission can happen not only through kisses but also through everyday habits we don't think twice about, such as pre-chewing food for the child or blowing on hot food to cool it.
Watch out for these habits!🚫
It's best to be careful with children aged 4 to 20 months, when their first teeth are coming in. If they're infected with cavity-causing bacteria during this period, their risk of cavities later on can increase.
| Habit to avoid | Why |
|---|---|
| Kissing on the lips | Spreads through saliva. |
| Sharing spoons | Bacteria move along with the food. |
| Blowing on food | Droplets of saliva can land on it. |
| Pre-chewing food | Spreads through saliva. |
Kisses on the cheek don't put saliva directly into the baby's mouth, so the chance of passing on cavity-causing bacteria is very low.
4 habits parents should practice first!👨👩👧👦
Preventing cavities in babies starts with the parents' own oral environment.
A parent's oral care is their baby's cavity prevention :)
If you found this article helpful,
today, share your love with your child through warm eye contact or a gentle pat on the head instead of a kiss!