Tooth Decay in Children

Written by: Wahida Sabir

people usually have 20 primary teeth, which start to erupt at about 6 months of age. They fall out at various times throughout childhood and would be gradually replaced by permanent teeth.

Some teeth might infect with different diseases from the very first years of life, including caries in childhood. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some children about tooth decay.

Susan, a resident of Paghman district, Kabul province says: “my two teeth are decayed and I suffer from a toothache and a severe headache.”

Marwa, a resident of Shakardara district of Kabul province says: “my four teeth are decayed and their pain bothers me from two months, I could not chew anything and I suffer from stomachache too.’

some other patients have the same problems.

Doctor Mustafa Kohdamani, a dentist in the dental branch, Indira Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul city says: “Tooth decay is the destruction of hard tissues of the tooth, which has a pain in various degrees, even affects nerves. Teeth drooping and teeth blackening are the signs of this problem.”

What do people think about the causes of tooth decay?

Marwa, a resident of Shakardara district says: “I was eating too much candy during last winter and it caused me a toothache.”

Another girl, Sumia from Shakardara says: “I suffer from tooth decay because I was cracking walnuts with my teeth and also I was not brushing my teeth after eating chocolate.”

Doctor Kohdamani says: “tooth caries has various causes. The first reason that kids’ teeth are more decayed is the feeding of babies with powder milk instead of breastfeeding because powder milk doesn’t have all the important ingredients that a mother’s milk has. Cracking almond, nuts, pistachio, and walnut and so on with teeth would also cause tooth decay and the last reason is not taking care of teeth cleaning and those children who are suffering from tooth caries, their parents should treat their children's teeth by an experienced dentist.”