Early Childhood Health

Dental caries (cavities or holes in teeth caused by decay) is the most common chronic childhood disease and occurs five times more often than the next most widespread disease, asthma. Early Childhood Caries, also called baby bottle tooth decay, is the term used for dental disease in infants, toddlers and preschool-age children, and may happen in children as young as 6 to 12 months.

Caused by Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species (bacteria) that are able to produce lactic acid, dental caries can spread from one person to another. Children are not born with these bacteria but are infected some time in their early life. Usually the bacteria is passed from mother, father or caregiver to the child via saliva sharing habits such as toothbrushes, utensils, cups or pacifiers that have been “cleaned” with saliva.

Early tooth loss caused by dental decay can result in failure to thrive, impaired speech development, absence from and inability to concentrate (in care, preschool, elementary school) and eventually self-esteem.

Be informed.

http://www.childcareaware.org/en/subscriptions/dailyparent/volume.php?id=57
http://www.aap.org/oralhealth/cme/
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/1201/p2113.html
http://www.childcareaware.org/en/subscriptions/areyouaware/article.php?id=38
cavityfreeatthree.org

-Ginette