Signs of early childhood tooth decayĮarly childhood caries develops over time and can be difficult to see in the early stages. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, especially between meals. Saliva flow is low during sleep, and so does not protect against damage.Įarly childhood caries might also occur if toddlers drink sweet drinks, such as fruit juices, cordials or soft drinks. Milk can pool in the mouth and the lactose sugar in milk feeds the bacteria that cause decay as the baby sleeps. These names are used because the evidence suggests that early childhood caries can occur if babies and infants are settled to sleep with a bottle of milk or formula (or other sweet drinks). Other names used to refer to this condition include ‘nursing bottle caries’, ‘infant feeding caries’ and ‘baby bottle decay’. The upper four front baby teeth are most commonly affected. In the later stages, teeth have brown or black areas. In the early stages the teeth can develop white chalky areas. The tooth decay process is also called ‘caries’. Saliva helps to repair this damage, but if over time there is more damage than repair, it leaves a cavity or ‘hole’ in the tooth. These bacteria produce acid, which damages the outer surface of the tooth (the enamel). Causes of tooth decay in young childrenīacteria in the mouth feed on sugars from foods and drinks.
They also guide the permanent adult teeth into position, so it is important to take care of your child’s teeth right from the start. The good news is that tooth decay is largely preventable.īaby teeth help children to eat and speak. The enamel (hard outer layer) is much thinner and softer on baby teeth, making them at greater risk of decay.
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