Children should be weaned from the bottle at 12-14 months of age.

Four things are necessary for cavities to form:

1. a tooth
2. bacteria
3. sugars or other carbohydrates, and
4. time.

The leading causes of cavities are a diet of high sugars and lack of brushing and flossing. The longer your child chews on their food, the longer the residue stays on their teeth, the more acid forms and the greater the chances of cavities.

It is very important that primary teeth are kept in place until they are lost naturally. These teeth serve a number of critical functions.

What Causes tooth decay?

1. Bacteria that live on teeth consumes sugar and then uses it to manufacture acids
2. The acids dissolve teeth
3. The dissolved tooth becomes infected
4. This infection is called decay

Pedodontics is the branch of dentistry dealing with the teeth and mouth conditions of children. Pediatric dentistry is the specialty of dentistry that focuses on the oral health and unique needs of young people.

Parental involvement is extremely important. Prepare your child for their first visit by reinforcing a positive attitude:

• Playing pretend dentist
• Reading books that involve a dental visit

It is very important to care for your young child’s teeth. Early Childhood Caries (ECC), or tooth decay can affect a child’s body weight, growth and the overall quality of life of a child.