EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES

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 Early Childhood Caries
What are early childhood caries?
It is a serious, painful dental disease affecting
infants and children.
It is tooth decay that results from improper
feeding practices.

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It may involve one or several teeth.
It usually occurs on the upper front teeth, but
can cause decay all teeth.

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 Early childhood caries may cause:
Pain
Many cavities
Crooked permanent teeth
Ear and speech problems
Possible emotional problems

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 How might the child get early
childhood caries?
1-If a child sleeps with a bottle.
2-If a child has a bottle for long period of time
during the day.
3-If a child sucks on a pacifier dipped in honey,
syrup or anything sweet.

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 How to keep the baby safe from early
childhood caries
1-Keep babys mouth clean
2-Wipe their gums and teeth with a soft cloth
after feeding and before bed and nap time
3-The child should be put to bed with out
bottle

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. 4-Do not let the child walk around or sit with a
bottle during the day.
.5- As soon as the first tooth appears, brush the
child's teeth daily with a child size toothbrush.

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6-Trade the bottle for a cup by one year of age
7-The childs tooth should be brushed as soon
as they appear in the mouth.
8-The parents should be advised to visit the
dentist regularly , starting between ages 2 and
3, earlier if a problem exists.

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.9-The parents should avoid giving sugary foods.
.10- Make sure that the child receives fluoride.
. 11-Fluoride toothpaste, fluoride water and
fluoride treatments or drops are excellent
sources of Rx.

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 What can be used to calm and quiet
the child
Give a security blanket, a plain pacifier
Sing or play music

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Hold or rock the child
Give back rub
Use a musical mobile
Read a book or tell a story

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 If the baby loves the bottle how to
keep it away
The parents should be advised to use
a plain- looking bottle for feeding ; one that
doesnt catch babys eye.
. Baby can learn to prefer a bright ,pretty cup to
the bottle.

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By the time he is a year old, he will not need
to drink from a bottle. So, the parents can
throw or give away his bottles when he turns
one year old.

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The parents should try to spend a few
minutes of quiet time with the baby before
bedtime, so she/he will be calm and feels
loved.

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 Dentists in protecting Babys teeth
Check babys mouth
Gently lift babys upper lip and look for white
spots in his teeth .

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If white or dark spots are seen on Baby's
teeth, that may be early childhood caries.

Babys should be taken to dentist at age one

year and every six months after that.

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 Progression of early childhood caries
Healthy tooth
No decay
RX=Asses about fluoride needs
FRONT REAR

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 EARLY DECAY
This stage called -the white spots stage. Can
be reversed .

FRONT REAR

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 Later decay
If the babys tooth look like this baby`s teeth has
been decayed (cavitated).This stage is called dark
spots stage.

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 Sever decay
Dark spots like those below appear on babys
tooth should be treated to avoid further tooth
damage and pain

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