Dental Caries
Dental Caries in Preschool Children
Dental caries in preschool children is due to a combination of factors, including colonization of teeth with cariogenic bacteria, type of foods and frequency of exposure of these foods to the cariogenic bacteria, and susceptible teeth.
Your child’s baby teeth are at risk for decay as soon as they first appear-which is typically around age six months. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay or Early Childhood Caries.
Breastfeeding and Infant Tooth Decay
Infants who are strictly breast fed are more resistant to tooth decay than those who are fed sugar-rich foods together with infant formulas and cow’s milk.
Mothers Share Caries Risk with Their Children
Caries levels in 15-19 year olds was twice as high when parents had high caries rates compared to children of parents with low caries rates. Several studies show that both parents influence the caries rates of children, but the influence of the mother's oral health is greater.