It doesn't matter if tooth decay happens in baby teeth since they will eventually be replaced by permanent teeth, right? Wrong! Good dental hygiene should become a regular part of your parenting duties once that first tooth comes in: after all, baby teeth will serve your child until the age of 12 or 13 when the final one usually falls out; and those teeth need to stay strong and healthy. Here is an overview of early childhood tooth decay and how to prevent it.

It may come as a shock that cavities (or caries) may begin developing in your baby's teeth before he even reaches his first birthday. Cavities are formed when harmful bacteria adhere to the surface of the teeth and develop into plaque. This plaque eats away at the tooth enamel and holes begin to form. The resulting tooth decay is exacerbated by sugar consumption, since the bacteria use the sugar as a form of energy and will multiply quicker and more obtrusively on the surface of the tooth.

Did you know that cavities are "contagious?" OK, cavities themselves are not contagious, but the bacteria that produce them certainly are! Saliva that contains these harmful bacteria can be transferred to another person's mouth via kissing, sharing utensils, and other activities. In truth, tooth decay can be the result of not only our own choices and hygiene habits, but also come from a transmissible, communicable bacterial infection. For this reason, tooth decay in remaining baby teeth can adversely affect your child's new permanent teeth!

What You Can Do

Early childhood tooth decay results most often from liquids that remain pooled in baby's mouth for a prolonged period of time. This constant exposure to the carbohydrates (or sugars) contained in infant formula, juice, and milk can wreak havoc on those new little teeth. Parents should always be careful to:

--Stop nursing or giving baby a bottle if he falls asleep. Then wipe teeth with a washcloth after each feeding.

--Never put baby to bed with a bottle: if this is a must, fill the bottle with plain water.

--Use a soft toothbrush to brush a toddler's teeth twice a day: no fluoride toothpaste till age two though.

--Liquids other than water are for relieving thirst or hunger, not for pacifying. Limit your baby's use of a bottle or sippy cup of juice to meal time.

--Soothe your child to sleep by rocking him or singing to him rather than through feeding.

Of course, it stands to reason that visiting the dentist from the age of two for regular cleanings and checkups is a must.