What is Early Childhood Caries & How Can It Be Prevented?
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is defined as having one or more decayed, missing or restored teeth & is the most prevalent infectious disease in children in the United States. More than 40% of children ready for kindergarten have cavities and 51 million hours of school time is lost each year due to dental disease! And children at risk for this disease are prone to be at risk as adults as well.
So how can we prevent our children from being at risk? First, it’s important to realize how early these issues need to be addressed. Your child’s first dental visit should be as early as 6 months old, or by 1 year old at the latest.
At home care needs to begin early as well. You should wipe your infant’s gums with a washcloth or specialized brush as soon as they are born. Plaque is actually present in the mouth as early as 48 hours after birth. Additionally, starting this practice of cleansing the mouth early on makes the transition to a toothbrush easier. As soon as the first tooth erupts, typically around 6 months, it is imperative to brush their teeth twice a day using a fluoridated toothpaste. Once they have all their baby teeth, or as soon as you notice they are in contact with each other, it is important to implement flossing in their routine, as toothbrushing alone does not completely clean all the tooth’s surface. At night, once their teeth are brushed, the child should not have any food or drink, except water, until morning.
There are several habits that also contribute to early childhood caries, including sharing utensils, licking the pacifier to “clean” it and kissing a baby. All these practices transfer your own bacteria to the baby’s mouth, thereby putting them at risk for a cavity.
Another common mistake is allowing your child to go to sleep with a bottle. This is especially detrimental to their oral health if the bottle has milk (including breast milk), formula or juice in it, as they are both sugary liquids and the sugar sits on the teeth all night and can erode the protective enamel. Although it it best to avoid a bottle at night, if necessary, only water is recommended. Milk is a staple to children’s diet, but juice should only be given as a treat and only 100% fruit juice. When the child graduates to a sippy cup, keep an eye on how much they use it. Overuse can lead to decay on the back of the front teeth if there are sugary drinks provided.
Pacifiers are a life saver to some parents, and while it is preferable to allowing your child to suck their thumb, it is important to wean them from the pacifier by age 2. Prolonged use can change the shape of the mouth and the way the teeth line up.
Infant and children’s medicines can also be sugary, so try to rinse their mouth with water after they take a dose of medicine.
Finally, if your child fusses over brushing, don’t give up! Proper oral hygiene are a crucial part of child care. Find ways to make it fun! Tooth timers, toothpaste & toothbrushes with their favorite character, fun songs to brush to all can all help make it fun. Sticker charts are a great idea, and there are also various apps available that can also help to motivate a reluctant child!