Tooth decay, also known as early childhood caries, is the most common chronic children’s disease in the country and the number one dental problem among preschoolers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that dental caries is five times more common than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever in children. The good news is that tooth decay is a disease that is mostly preventable. Good tooth care can keep cavities from happening in your child

Tooth decay starts to develop when a child’s teeth and gums are exposed to any liquids or foods for long periods of time. Cavities are holes in teeth that are formed when certain bad bacteria in your mouth use the sugar in food to make acid. This acid eats away at the enamel covering of the teeth and causes holes.  The more sugar on your child’s teeth, the more bad bacteria, the more acid, the more cavities.

Your child might be at risk for cavities if he or she eats a lot of sugary foods (such as raisins, cookies and candy) and drinks a lot of sweet liquids (such as fruit juice and punch, soda and sweetened drinks).  Your baby or young child is especially at risk for cavities if they go to bed with a bottle or if they carry a bottle or sippy-cup of juice or milk around during the day.  Your child also might be at risk if he or she was born early or very small, has special health care needs, has white or brown spots on their teeth, has a primary caregiver who has a history of many cavities or “soft teeth”, or do not go to the dentist very often.

An ounce of prevention is worth a lifetime of smiles.

Fluoride is an important part of your child’s dental health.  Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is often added to the tap water. Fluoride helps make teeth strong by hardening the tooth enamel and preventing tooth decay. If you live in an area where the tap water doesn’t contain fluoride, or your family uses well water, or you drink un-fluoridated bottled water, your health care provider may prescribe daily fluoride supplements.  Only give as much as the directions say to use, because too much fluoride can cause spots on your child’s teeth.

Prevent Tooth Decay:

Feed your child healthy food. Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth.  Choose drinks and foods that do not have a lot of sugar in them. Sweets (candy or cookies), starchy foods (crackers) and sticky foods (fruit roll-ups, fruit-snacks or raisins) stay in the mouth longer, so they can easily cause tooth decay. If your child wants a snack between meals, give your child fresh fruits and vegetables instead of candy and cookies.  Be careful with dried fruits, such as raisins, since they easily stick to the grooves of the teeth and can cause cavities if not thoroughly brushed off the teeth.

Baby-bottle tooth decay:

Babies who go to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice are more likely to get tooth decay. Teeth can decay quickly because the sugar in formula, milk or juice stays in contact with the teeth for a long time during the night.  Because dental caries is a complex disease, the current preferred term for baby-bottle tooth decay is Early Childhood Caries.

Tips to avoid Early Childhood Caries:

Never put your child to bed with a bottle or food. Not only does this expose your child’s teeth to sugars, it can also put your child at risk for ear infections and choking.  If you do put your child to bed with a bottle, only fill their bottle with plain water, not milk or juice.  Again, this is not recommended.

Stop nursing when your child is asleep or has stopped sucking on the bottle.

Do not to let your child to use a bottle of milk or juice as a pacifier.

Start to teach your child to drink from a sippy-cup at about 6 months of age. Plan to stop using a bottle by 12 to 14 months at the latest.

A teeth owner’s guide

Check and Clean Your Baby’s Teeth:

Healthy teeth should be all one color. If you see spots or stains on the teeth, take your baby to your dentist.  Baby teeth are important.  As soon as a baby’s first teeth appear—usually by age six months or so—the child is susceptible to decay. It’s important to care for your child’s baby teeth because they act as “placeholders” for adult teeth. If baby teeth are lost too early, the teeth that are left may move and not leave any room for the adult teeth to come in. Children with dental caries in their baby teeth are at much greater risk for cavities in their adult teeth.  Tooth decay in baby teeth can be painful and cause health problems like infections, which can at times be life threatening. It can also lead to teasing and speech development problems. 

Establish good oral health habits early:

Start children with good dental habits before the first tooth appears.  After feedings, gently brush your baby’s gums using water on a baby toothbrush that has soft bristles. Or wipe them with a clean washcloth.

Brush ‘em if you got ’em:

Clean your child’s teeth as soon as they come in, using a clean, soft cloth or by gently brushing the gums and teeth with water and a soft infant toothbrush. Clean the teeth at least twice a day. It’s best to clean them right after breakfast and before bedtime. Once your baby has 8 teeth, you can start using a child-sized toothbrush for daily cleanings.  At about age 2, most of your child’s teeth will be in. Once your child can spit and not swallow the toothpaste, begin using fluoride toothpaste. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and push it into the bristles of the toothbrush with your finger before brushing your child’s teeth.  This will limit the amount she can accidentally swallow. As your child gets older let her use her own toothbrush. It is best if you put the toothpaste on the toothbrush until your child is about age 6. Until children are 7 or 8 years old, you will need to help them brush. Try brushing their teeth first and then letting them finish. Be sure that you spread the toothpaste into the bristles of the brush and use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.  Flossing is also a good habit to get your child into.

Cavities are unfortunately common in children.  Learn good habits that you can do prevent problems in your child.  Don’t use a bottle to put your child to bed.

It’s okay to let your child drink water, but set limits on when your child can have other kinds of drinks.  Look at your child’s teeth for discoloration so you can find cavities early.  Find a dentist when your child turns one. This gives the dentist a chance to look for early tooth problems and to talk to you about how to care for your baby’s teeth. It also helps your child feel okay in the dentist’s office. 

Be a good role model – eat healthy foods – including snacks, don’t drink sugary drinks, brush at least twice a day, floss, and go to the dentist twice a year. 

Sources

American Academy of Pediatrics; First Steps to a Healthy Smile (Copyright © 2008)
American Academy of Pediatrics; HealthyChildren.org; Healthy Children Magazine, Winter 2007
American Dental Association: www.ada.org/public/topics/decay_childhood.asp
American Family Physician; Taking Care of Your Child’s Teeth, www.familydoctor.org
National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center; Facts on Early
Childhood Caries (ECC) (2nd ed.)© 2004 by the Center,Georgetown University. www.mchoralhealth.org