Cavities and your child, from Just 4 kiDDS Pediatric Dentistry

Our staff at Just 4 kiDDS Pediatric Dentistry read an interesting article this week pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads from parents to children, and thought we'd share the piece with you, our valued patients (and their parents).

According to the MSNBC article, Streptococcus mutans, or MS, is a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva, and is the main culprit. Bacteria has been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a pediatric dentistry study conducted in 2008 showed “strong evidence demonstrated that mothers are a primary source of MS colonization of their children; a few investigations showed other potential sources … notably fathers.”

Dr. Jordan Higham and our staff knows tooth decay is caused by a combination of factors, including the transfer of infectious saliva, genetics, oral hygiene, and feeding practices, such as letting your baby constantly suck on a sippy cup full of juice or milk or other sugar-laden liquids.

Please take a minute and read the article to learn a bit more about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact you and your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your treatment here at Just 4 kiDDS Pediatric Dentistry, please feel free to give us a call at (208) 529-2199.

Have a great rest of the week!