Early childhood cavities are more prevalent in babies from 2 years to 5 years in recent days due to improper feeding habits of the child. Nowadays, due to the awareness of breast milk's importance, many mothers are breastfeeding their children for more than two years. Milk teeth start erupting from 6 months of age. Faulty feeding habits are the main reason for early childhood cavities, which appear as black color mainly in the upper front tooth. Bottle feeding or breastfeeding for a long period of time causes this issue. After one year, continuing the breast milk as a pacifier for making the baby sleep at night is one of the main causes for these types of cavities. The same applies to bottle fed children also. Counseling mothers on the right way of feeding their babies is very important to prevent cavities.

Prevention is better than Cure. After every feeding,

Cleaning the tooth and oral cavity with a soft cloth,
Giving water after every meal,
Start brushing when the first tooth appears in the oral cavity.
Avoid feeding as a pacifier to make the baby sleep will help in reducing the formation of early childhood cavities.

Routine dental checkups every 6 months once for the baby is necessary to maintain a good dental care for the milk tooth. Though a milk tooth is replaced by the permanent tooth by 12 to 13 years of age, it is very important for the children for their early development and nutrition.

Dr. Suhanya Prasanna Kumar, MDS, FAAD, PG
Certification in Advanced Implantology (MCODS)
Chief Dentist, Crown Dental Care
A press of new thoughts.