Early Cavity Prevention

Nursing Decay is also known as Early Childhood Caries.

Nursing Decay is caused by the combination of:

plaque germs on teeth
frequent exposure of a baby’s teeth to sugary liquids such as breast milk, cows milk, formula, sweetened drinks, or fruit juice.

These sugary fluids are especially damaging if they are used to help a child go to sleep because the sugars stay in contact with the teeth for a long time and the spit (saliva) that could wash it off is reduced during sleep.

When the sugar pools around tooth enamel, the bacteria in plaque convert the sugar into acids that dissolve the enamel and make a cavity.

Mother’s milk is definitely the preferred food for an infant’s first months of life but even breast milk can cause cavities if the baby sleeps with Mother and can suckle at will or sleeps on the breast.

If you use a bottle, we recommend weaning your baby off of the bottle by age one or using water only in their bottle.

Because dental decay is caused by plaque bacteria converting sugar or starch into acid, it is actually better to clean the plaque germs off teeth BEFORE eating or giving your baby a bottle.

This is very different from what most of us have been taught, but it makes sense when you think about it and it works.

So the key to preventing Early Childhood Caries is to practice good oral hygiene by keeping the teeth well brushed and flossed, then limiting exposure to sweets.

Babies that do not yet have teeth can get their gums cleaned by gentle rubbing with a soft cloth. As soon as teeth erupt, use a soft bristle tooth brush to massage the gums and clean the teeth.

As they get older, children should continue to get help as they floss and brush their teeth twice a day, often before school and before bed.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends six month visits to the pediatric dentist beginning at your child’s first birthday. Routine visits will start your child on a lifetime of good dental health.

Your pediatric dentist may also recommend protective sealants or home fluoride treatments for your child. Sealants can be applied to your child’s molars to prevent decay on hard to clean surfaces.