What is Early Childhood Caries (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)?
Early childhood caries (ECC) – also known as baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) – is a preventable, infectious disease caused by certain types of bacteria that grow in the mouth of preschool-age children. Caries can arise so early in a child’s life because children often hold food (such as juice and milk) for long periods of time in their mouth. Bacteria in your child’s mouth digest carbohydrate and food particles in the mouth to produce acids that attack the teeth. Prolonged and frequent exposures to these acids result in cavities and tooth decay.
