What is Early Childhood Caries?
Early childhood caries, commonly known as "baby bottle tooth decay" occurs when your infant’s teeth are bathed for hours with sugary liquids like formula, milk, and fruit juices.
If you put your baby down for a nap or send them to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water, they are at serious risk for tooth decay. Sugar pools in their mouth and leads to the buildup of bacteria-filled plaque. This produces acids that attack a child’s tooth enamel and rapidly causes cavities.
Oral Hygiene in Infancy
Many parents are surprised to learn that they can start helping their child even before they get their first tooth! A simple step like wiping down their gums after each feeding with gauze or a damp washcloth helps control bacteria in their mouth and also helps your baby acclimate to an oral hygiene routine.
When the first baby teeth erupt, use a small soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice to clean them. By age three, you can increase the amount of toothpaste to a pea-sized amount. Flossing should begin as soon as any two teeth touch.