40% of Singapore preschoolers have a severe form of decay called Early Childhood Caries (ECC).
If you have a young child, she/he is at risk. ECC is identified by:
- decay which first attacks a young child’s front teeth, sometimes as soon as they erupt
- decay which is rapidly spreading and has a typical pattern of spread
ECC in a 2yr old child. Decay affecting first the front teeth
then spreads to other teeth. Note how lower incisors are spared
What are the risk factors?
- Early infection of infants by strep.mutans, a caries causing bacteria passed on from mother/caregiver to infant. This risk of transmission is higher if mother/caregiver herself has poor oral health.
- Failure to brush infant's teeth properly
- Prolonged use of milk bottle filled with milk or sweetened liquids, as a comforter to sooth the child to sleep.
- Demand breast feeding – allowing child to fall asleep at breast
Prevention is the best option in the management of Early Childhood Caries
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If you have a young child or are pregnant, keep good oral health
Avoid sharing food/eating utensils with your child
Avoid filling your child’s nursing bottle with liquids such as sugar water, honey or soft drinks.
Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, fruit juices or sweetened liquids.
Wean child off milk bottle by age 1.
Begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts.
Bring your child to a dentist by age 1, or as soon as the first tooth erupts.
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