Early childhood tooth decay

What causes tooth decay? Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that naturally live in the mouth. When your child eats or drinks something with sugar, these bacteria use that sugar to produce acids. Over time, those acids can weaken and break down the tooth, leading to cavities. What is early childhood tooth decay? Early childhood tooth decay can happen when a child’s teeth are exposed to sugary liquids for long periods of time — especially during sleep.

For example, going to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, or juice allows sugar to stay on the teeth overnight, which can lead to rapid decay. How to help prevent early childhood tooth decay?

• Put your child to bed with a bottle of plain water, not milk or juice
• Avoid letting your child fall asleep while feeding
• Do not allow your child to carry a bottle of milk or juice throughout the day
• Begin introducing a cup around 6 months of age
• Aim to transition away from bottles by 12–14 months
• Avoid dipping pacifiers in honey or sugar