Spike in toddler cavities preventable

A recent study showed a sharp increase in toddler cavities, but a U.S. dentists advises that oral disease is almost 100 percent preventable. Pediatric dentists, Jonathan Shenkin and Mary Hayes of Chicago, both of the American Dental Association, said the study showed the increase in dental decay in preschoolers is resulting in children undergoing dental procedures in a hospital under general anesthesia. Many parents simply might not know the importance of taking care of that very first tooth and all the teeth that follow, the dentists said. The dentists advise parents to: Make dental care non-negotiable. In the same way parents would never drive unless their child is buckled in a car seat, dental care needs to be a must. Not allow their children to sip a sweet drink all day, because it increases decay. It's the frequency, not the quantity of sugar that damages teeth. Each time sugar passes the teeth, it feeds bacteria, which produce acid that attacks tooth enamel. Over time, these acid attacks can lead to cavities. All-day access to a sippy cup filled with a sweet drink is not a good idea, nor is putting a baby to bed with a bottle filled with something sweet, which includes formula. Brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. Research shows that if parents have good dental health, their children are more likely to as well because they mimic their role models.