What Do You Know About Early Childhood Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay can happen when your child’s teeth come in contact with too much sugar. This sugar helps bacteria grow. Acids that the bacteria make cause the teeth to decay. Many of the liquids that your child drinks contain sugar, including milk, formula and fruit juices. Eating snacks with sugar also places more sugar on your child’s teeth.

Early Childhood Tooth Decay
To avoid this very serious condition, here are some tips:

DO NOT fill your child’s bottle with fluids that are high in sugar, such as punch, gelatin, or soft drinks.
Put your child to bed with a bottle of water only — not juice, milk, or other drinks.
Give children ages 6 – 12 months only formula to drink in bottles.
Remove the bottle or stop nursing when your child has fallen asleep.
Avoid letting your child walk around using a bottle of juice or milk as a pacifier. Avoid prolonged use of pacifiers and DO NOT dip the pacifier in honey, sugar, or syrup.
Begin teaching your child to drink from a cup at around 6 months of age. Try to stop using a bottle by age 12 – 14 months.
Limit juice to fewer than 6 ounces per day during meals

Photograph Credit: www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca