Children's Health: Early Childhood Caries (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)

Growing up, I have vivid and painful memories of driving to an out-of-town pediatric dentist's office and it wasn't until I was older that I figured out why I spent so much time having dental work. I had what used to be commonly referred to as, "baby bottle tooth decay," resulting in numerous dental procedures and the sporting of a few false front teeth in my early grade school photos. What is baby bottle tooth decay and how can parents prevent it?

Early Childhood Caries, the new term used for nursing caries/baby bottle tooth decay, affects nearly 25% of children under the age of five in the United States. The use of the new terminology is based on research showing that the manner in which a child is fed does not necessarily cause the condition, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Tooth decay occurs when liquids (formula, milk, juice, etc.) that contain sugar remain on the tooth of an infant for a significant amount of time. Bacteria feed upon the sugar, creating acids that then attack the child's teeth. Over time, the teeth begin to decay.

Early Childhood Caries can result in a number of problems for a child, including pain, articulation problems, difficulty chewing and obtaining nourishment, oral infections, and problems with self-esteem, making friends, and difficulties in school. ECC can also cause issues with the growth of permanent teeth. In my case, many of my permanent teeth grew in crooked and I wore dental appliances for years to repair the damage.

The American Dental Association offers advice for parents in order to prevent childhood tooth decay. They advise that after feeding an infant to wipe the gums gently. Brush any teeth that begin to develop while continuing to wipe the gums where there are no teeth. They discourage giving a child a bottle which contains sugar water or soda and advise parents to never allow an infant to sleep with a bottle which contains sugary liquids. The ADA also recommends that a child see a dentist around one year of age in order to promote healthy and lasting oral hygiene practices.

With Early Childhood Caries, a little prevention goes a long way. Avoiding tooth decay early on can save the child a great deal of physical and emotional pain and prevent missed school days due to dental appointments. Parents will benefit not only from having a healthier child, but from the reduced cost of dental procedures needed to fix problems caused by tooth decay.