What is early childhood tooth decay?
• Cause children pain • Destroy baby teeth • Create speech problems • Cause feeding problems • Make children feel bad about how they look What causes tooth decay? Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth use carbohydrates (sugars and starches) found in certain foods to make acid. This acid eats away at tooth enamel, causing pitted areas or holes. Young children are more at risk for cavities than adults because the enamel or outer surface of baby teeth is thinner than adult teeth. Tooth decay can begin in children as young as one year old. How can I prevent tooth decay? • After age one, do not put children to bed with a bottle of anything but water. • Drinks like juice and milk have sugars that can cause tooth decay. Save these drinks for meals. • Give your child water to drink between meals. • If your baby needs to be soothed, try holding, rocking, reading, singing or rubbing your baby’s back, instead of giving a bottle. • Start children using a cup when they can sit up for meals
