How to Prevent Early Childhood Caries

Having good dental care is essential for the development of your child. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Early Childhood Caries (ECC) that Your Doctors Answers has collected.

Is my child suffering from Early Childhood Caries (ECC)?

A study by the National University of Singapore published in 2009 found that as many as 40% of preschoolers have ECC. Dental Caries, or commonly known as dental decay, is an infectious transmissible disease that is caused by certain strains of oral bacteria that metabolises sugars in the dental plaque to produce acid. This acid in turns softens the outermost tooth structure and starts the progression of dental decay. If initial caries is left untreated, it can progress into a cavity. The multiple causes for dental decay in adults are the same in children. ECC in short is the presence of 1 or more decayed, missing (due to decay) or filled tooth surfaces in any primary child under the age of 6.

Why is my child vulnerable to ECC?

Naturally, if your child has frequent feedings and does not have his teeth cleaned well, it increases exposure of food debris on the teeth, which allows the bacteria to soften the outermost surface and cause caries formation. The good news is, if the decay is spotted early before a cavitation forms, the disease may be reversible. A cavity on the other hand would require removal of the decay and a filling.

How do I know my child has ECC?

• ECC typically affects upper incisors first as they emerge the earliest and are less protected by the neutralising benefits of saliva. Baby molar teeth are affected next because of its irregular grooved surfaces. When irregular surfaces are not cleaned well, the stagnation of food debris can cause decays to form easily.
• ECC or normal decay typically forms as white spots along the gum line. This may progress as a small surface defect and consequently a frank cavity. If not treated early, the cavity may progress to the vital tissues of the tooth that may cause pain, difficulty in chewing/speaking.

How can we prevent ECC?

• Improve oral hygiene through regular brushing and flossing. If your child is too young to brush his own teeth, do brush it for them and gradually teach them to brush their own teeth under your supervision.
• Alter feeding practices: ensure your child does not go straight to bed after feeding as this allows milk product to pool around teeth and gives the bacteria time to initiate the breakdown of teeth during his sleep.
• Encourage the use of a smear of fluoride toothpaste during your  child’s tooth brushing regime. Also encourage him to spit the toothpaste and not ingest it. 
• Most importantly, bring your child to the dentist as soon as his first teeth start emerging. With a regular dental appointment established, dentists can spot issues like dental caries at the early stage and suggest preventive and curative measures that will benefit your child’s dental health. The dentist can also partner with parents in equipping them with information on how to care for their child’s dental needs at home.