Babies emerge from the womb without the bacteria that cause tooth decay. So where does it come from?
International research confirms that tooth decay is an infectious disease passed from mothers to their children, reinforcing the message that oral health should be a family affair, according to Dr Andrea Shepperson, lead dentist at City Dental, Quay Park in Auckland, part of Lumino The Dentists, New Zealand’s only national dental healthcare organisation.
“We are encouraging mothers to be conscious of their own dental health because it is clearly shown now to be a family affair. Testing for this bacteria is a simple test which allows us to alert parents to the potential risk of decay. I can take a swab and tell my patients within 15 seconds if they are at risk from this kind of tooth decay. Then we’re well armed to help them counteract it. We offer a wide range of products for all ages to mitigate the risk.”
The new study warns that the bacteria that cause tooth decay can be transmitted from person-to-person, including mother-to-child. Almost half of the mothers studied and more than a fourth of the children and adolescents had untreated tooth decay.
One means of transmission could be from a mother tasting a child’s food and then using the same spoon to feed her child.
The findings underscore the need for family dentists to ask about the oral health of other family members. The authors stress that dentists should encourage all family members to get treatment, especially if a child already has tooth decay, and provide the family with the preventive measures, knowledge and skills to help prevent future disease.
