The average healthy adult visits the dentist twice a year. The average healthy two-year-old has never been to the dentist. By kindergarten, twenty-five percent of children have never seen a dentist, yet according to the Surgeon General's Oral Health Report 2000, dental decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease in America.

The culprit? A combination of misinformation about when a child should first visit the dentist, when a parent should start caring for a child's teeth and the frequent and long-term exposure of sugary liquids to a child's teeth.

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends a child first visit the dentist six months after the eruption of the first tooth. During this first exam, the dentist can teach parents the best way to guard against early childhood tooth decay by wiping down the teeth with a damp cloth once a day and remind parents to limit sugary beverages.

Frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to sugary liquids is commonly called baby bottle tooth decay. Most parents and dentists are aware of baby bottle tooth decay however, may not know that the long-term and regular consumption of sugary liquids in a bottle or cup puts children's growing teeth at increased risk for decay.

Unsweetened fruit juices, teas and water are always best for children to help promote oral and overall health, says Cindi Sherwood, DDS, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, fruit juice causes tooth decay if children are allowed to hold a bottle, cup or box of juice in their mouth through the day.

If left untreated, baby bottle tooth decay can result in pain and infection, says Dr. Sherwood. Baby teeth are important because they hold the place for permanent teeth and help guide them into correct position. Severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted which could effect the development of permanent teeth, a child's speech and chewing.

Caring for children's teeth beginning in infancy promotes good oral health care habits for a lifetime and increases the chances of a child maintaining healthy permanent teeth.

Tips for Parents to Decrease the Risk of Early Childhood Tooth Decay

◆Wean a child from the bottle or breast by age one.
◆Use spill-proof cups as a transitional step in the development of children, not a long-term solution.
◆Don't allow children to use spill-proof cups throughout the day. Save spill-proof cups for snack and mealtimes when increased salivary activity helps clean teeth.
◆Drink sugary beverages through a straw. The best spill-proof cups to protect against decay are those with collapsible rubber straws.
◆Introduce oral health care habits early. Wipe children's teeth with a damp cloth once a day. Introduce brushing with a soft-bristle brush and fluoridated toothpaste by age two under the supervision of a parent.