Beware of those pesky cavities, from Pearland Pediatric Dentistry

Our team at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry read an interesting article this morning pertaining to cavities and how bacteria spreads, and thought we'd share the news with you, our valued patients.

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 of parent-to-child cavity transmissions. Bacteria has been known to spread through blowing on babies' foods, sharing household utensils and even kissing your little one. In fact, a 2008 pediatric dentistry study 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.”

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

Drs. Clark and Reddy would like for you to read the article and learn about the transmission of bacteria and how it might impact your child. If you have any questions about bacteria or your treatment at Pearland Pediatric Dentistry, please feel free to give us a call at 713.436.4080!