Dental Caries
- posted: Apr. 26, 2012
Early childhood caries, or ECC, is a serious form of cavities. It can quickly destroy your child's teeth. In the past it has been called baby bottle tooth decay, nursing caries or nursing bottle syndrome. ECC often occurs when your baby's teeth are exposed to sugars for long periods throughout the day. Baby bottles or sippy cups with fruit juice or milk both contain sugars. When these liquids are in the mouth, bacteria start eating the sugars and then produce acids. These acids cause decay if they remain on teeth long enough. Remember, it's not just what your baby is drinking, but how often. The more time that liquids (other than water) are in a baby's mouth, the higher the risk. This is why it is dangerous to let your baby go to sleep with a bottle or use a bottle as a pacifier during the day. The teeth most often affected by ECC are the upper front teeth. But others can decay, too. How many of you have put their baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice (even watered down)???
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