Common Questions

Many experts recommend breast-feeding over bottle-feeding for the overall health of your child. However, breast-feeding can lead to Early Childhood Cavities in the same way that bottle-feeding can.

To prevent Early Childhood Cavities:

• Avoid overnight feeding, such as bringing baby to bed with you and allowing him/her to nurse at will. Milk can "pool" in the child's mouth and cause acid to form continuously throughout the night. This acid leads to decay.
• Avoid letting baby walk around with a bottle.
• The American Dental Association recommends that you encourage your child to drink from a cup by his or her first birthday.

Thumb-sucking is normal for infants; most stop on their own by age 2.

• If your child sucks his or her thumb beyond age 2, try to discourage it by age 4.
• Thumb-sucking beyond age 4 can lead to crooked, crowded teeth and/or bite problems.

Yes, but don't dip it in sugar, honey, or sweetened liquid. In addition:

• Try to have your child give up the pacifier by age 2.
• Keep in mind that while a pacifier and thumb-sucking create no health difference for the child, a pacifier may be a better choice because it can be easier to wean your child from a pacifier than from thumb-sucking.

Use a small, soft-bristled brush. Use a circular or wiggling motion on all tooth surfaces, especially where the tooth meets the gumline. Once your toddler is able to spit out, use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste on the brush. Families should ask their dentist to demonstrate proper toothbrushing during the child's dental visit.

Yes. Cavity-causing germs can be transmitted through contact – like when baby puts hands in your mouth, and then in his or her own mouth. That's why it's so important to keep your own teeth and gums healthy.

In addition, research has shown that since a pregnant woman shares blood with her unborn baby, any infection of the mouth – such as a cavity or gum (periodontal) disease – can affect the baby. According to the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research at the National Institutes of Health, oral disease/infection has also been linked to such conditions as preterm, low birth weight babies.

When your child is able to spit. Fluoride is safe and necessary to keep teeth strong, but only at appropriate levels. Younger toddlers tend to swallow toothpaste in excessive amounts, and this may lead to fluorosis, which causes discoloration of the teeth. And remember – even if your water is fluoridated, you still need to use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride is necessary in both "topical" forms – like toothpaste, and "ingested" forms – like water or fluoride supplements.

If you use bottled water for drinking and cooking – or if your community water is not fluoridated – be sure to tell your doctor or dentist. They may prescribe fluoride supplements for the baby.