{"id":110,"date":"2018-11-12T18:21:22","date_gmt":"2018-11-12T18:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/?p=110"},"modified":"2020-06-29T15:32:10","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T15:32:10","slug":"prevent-early-childhood-caries-with-a-pediatric-dentist-in-hillsboro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/12\/prevent-early-childhood-caries-with-a-pediatric-dentist-in-hillsboro\/","title":{"rendered":"Prevent Early Childhood Caries with a Pediatric Dentist in Hillsboro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Is there anything more adorable than a baby\u2019s smile\u2014especially if that baby happens to be yours? The answer to that question is obvious! Until your children are older, taking care of their teeth is your responsibility. Chief among your concerns should be preventing early childhood caries (ECC), which used to be known as baby bottle tooth decay<\/a>or nursing caries. ECC refers to the early development of cavities in kids who are younger than five. Continue reading for tips on how to prevent ECC from a pediatric dentist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Early Childhood Caries?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Simply put, early childhood caries are cavities. They may first appear as white spots along the gum line of a child\u2019s upper front teeth, but other teeth could also be affected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The spots can be difficult to see initially. However, if a pediatric dentist sees them, then the progression can be stopped, so the spots don\u2019t turn into cavities. As ECC gets worse, the spots may turn brown and then become holes, which may lead to broken teeth. Thus, early treatment is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Causes ECC?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More often than not, early childhood caries happens when liquids and food containing sugar are left in your child\u2019s mouth for many hours. The prime culprits are milk and juice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bacteria feed off of sugar and then excrete acids that can destroy your child\u2019s teeth over time. Other factors such as the frequency of feedings, oral hygiene and medications may also influence the likelihood that your child will develop ECC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is ECC Prevented?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First of all, never put your baby or child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, juice or any other sweetened beverage. Doing so not only puts your child\u2019s adorable smile at risk for cavities, but giving your child a bottle while he or she is lying down may increase the likelihood of ear infections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your child is accustomed to having a bottle in bed, then slowly dilute the milk or juice with water so that after a few weeks they are only drinking water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other steps to prevent ECC include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n