Diagnosing and treating childhood cavities are very important not just for the bad appearance the child has but also due to improper functioning and poor oral hygiene with such conditions.

Early childhood caries is considered a rampant and common condition these days with a lot of ignorance towards diet and oral hygiene practices in children. It is a condition where in the presence of 1 or more decayed (noncavitated or cavitated lesions), missing (due to caries), or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth.Early childhood caries (ECC), also known as baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) is a preventable, infectious disease caused by certain types of bacteria (bugs) that live in your mouth.

Check-ups make a difference

Many parents do not realize that nutritious food and drinks such as milk, formula, breast milk, and fruit juice have naturally occurring sugars that contribute to the decay process. When children go to bed with a bottle containing milk for example, liquid sits in the child’s mouth for an extended period creating a perfect environment for bacteria. You can’t stop feeding your child nutritious food, but you can regulate when and how often your child is exposed to “sugar hits.” Limit between meal snacking and if a bottle is needed, use only water at nap/bed time.

Parents play an important role in the early detection of decay. Lift your child’s lip to look for early signs of decay – white spots. If you see white spots, especially on your child’s front teeth, schedule an appointment with a dentist. Your dentist may want to apply fluoride for a few months to protect your child’s teeth from further damage. When your baby‘s first tooth erupts, begin cleaning baby’s teeth with a soft washcloth or small, soft toothbrush with a tiny smear of toothpaste with fluoride. At this age, your dentist or pediatrician may also want to prescribe fluoride supplements. Fluoride helps strengthen developing teeth making them more resistant to decay. Children that drink fluoridated community water should not receive fluoride supplements. Begin brushing your child’s teeth with a pea-size dab of toothpaste at age two. Instruct your child to spit out the toothpaste after brushing. Continue to help your child brush their teeth until they have mastered this skill – usually around eight years old.

Nip the problem in the bud for a happier smile of your child

“I was totally ignorant of the amount of damage my child was suffering due to her bottle feeding with sugary milk in the last few months. Dr. Nikhil made me understand how important it is to understand diet to prevent baby bottle teeth syndrome.”

Mrs. Shanti Chhabra   •   Mother of a 4 year girl

ECC (early childhood caries) has been shown to be a very common, transmissible bacterial infection and it can be prevented with various steps. The need of the hour is to educate ourselves for the causes and take holistic steps to stop this menace.