Epidemic of Childhood Cavities

Early Childhood Tooth Decay is becoming an epidemic in today’s society due to the prevalence of sugary drinks and snacks.  Your child’s baby teeth are at risk for decay as soon as they first appear-which is typically around age six months. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay or Early Childhood Caries. It most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected. In some unfortunate cases, infants and toddlers have experienced decay so severe that the teeth cannot be repaired and need to be removed. The good news is that decay is preventable.  With a regular dental checkups, fluoride supplementation and preventative care, you can keep your child's baby teeth healthy and create good habits that will keep their permanent teeth healthy for a lifetime.

Help prevent tooth decay for your child by following the tips below:

• Schedule a visit for the first dental check-up between ages of 1 and 2. Although this may seem early, starting early is the key to a lifetime of good dental health.
• Make sure that the caregivers have good dental health
• Don’t share saliva with the baby through common use of feeding spoons or licking pacifiers.
• Encourage healthy eating habits that include a diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Serve nutritious snacks and limit sweets to mealtimes.
• Place only formula, milk or breastmilk in bottles, not sugar water, juice or soft drinks.
• Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed.
• Toddlers should drink juice and milk with meals, sipping on water between meals.
  
• After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums with a clean, damp washcloth to remove plaque and bits of food. When your child’s teeth begin to erupt, brush them gently with a child’s size toothbrush and water.


• When your child can be counted on to spit and not swallow toothpaste (usually not before age two), begin brushing the teeth with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.


• Brush your child’s teeth until he or she is at least six years old.