Early Childhood Caries

Although dental decay is a multifactorial disease one of the main factors in the development of ECC is sugar being allowed to contact the teeth for prolonged periods

• Letting your baby fall asleep with a bottle. When your baby is asleep, the liquids that contain sugar stay around the teeth and can cause decay. Even breast milk and formula contain sugar.
• Prolonged nursing with mother or allowing your baby to fall asleep while nursing.
• Allowing your infant to walk around with a bottle, sipping continuously.

Put your child to bed without a bottle...

Your child can fall asleep without a bottle. Here are five tips to try:

• Let your child take a "security" blanket, teddy bear, doll, or favourite toy to bed
• Quietly sing or play restful music
• Hold or gently rock your child
• Give your child a back rub to help him or her to relax
• Read or tell your child a story.

• Tooth decay
• Tooth loss
• Ear and speech problems
• Crooked permanent teeth
• Severe pain
• Poor self-image

• Get into the habit of putting your baby to bed without a bottle.
• Never put the baby to bed with a bottle filled with formula, milk, juice, sugar water, or fizzy drinks. If your baby must have a bottle to go to sleep, fill it with water.
• Do not let your infant walk around with a bottle.
• Start teaching your infant to use a cup between 6-12 months. Exchange your baby's bottle for a training cup by the time he/she is one year old.
• Check with your dental professional to make sure your child is getting enough fluoride on their teeth each day.