Some children may be ill frequently for long periods of time requiring them to take medication that is sweetened for better taste and also medications that may cause dry mouth as a side effect.
The above are just examples and although they may not apply to every family they shine light on dental, non-dental, medical, family structure, and social factors which may influence dental caries risk on baby teeth.
“Billy never eats any sugar, how can he have six cavities?”
It is common; this may have to do with the nature of the snack foods. Cariogenic, meaning the ability of a food or substance to induce dental decay can help recognize which foods are more cariogenic and which are less cariogenic. Sugar content is generally well known, frequency is not as often understood, and physical properties such as stickiness are rarely known.
Generally, when the teeth are exposed to a liquid carrying sugar and/or acid whether in high or low amounts, it usually takes the mouth 25-30 minutes to return back to a neutral pH.
As seen in the graph below, a pH at 5.5 or lower causes tooth demineralization or decay. A pH higher than 5.5 is required to prevent tooth decay.
Therefore frequent snacks whether solids or liquids, including some brands of water, can cause the pH to remain low and lead to higher risk for decay.
