Though we don’t often think about it, youngsters as young as 9 or 10 months can be infected with cavity producing bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that almost 20% of children 2-5 have untreated cavities. At Falls Pointe Dental in Raleigh, pediatric dentistry can help.Tooth decay, if left untreated, can result in poor eating habits, delayed speech development, and create an unhealthy environment for permanent tooth development. Healthy baby teeth lead to healthier permanent teeth later in life.Women who adhere to preventive dental and oral care during prenatal and postnatal periods can better safeguard their child from tooth decay. Parents and care providers should not prop a bottle for their baby in a crib or car seat, avoid nighttime bottle or breastfeeding, and clean their child’s teeth with a cloth or soft baby toothbrush as soon as they erupt.At Falls Pointe Dental in Raleigh, we recommend bringing your child for an initial dental appointment when the first tooth breaks through. That’s usually by their first birthday. We offer pediatric dentistry, as well as general and cosmetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment today.“Untreated Dental Caries in Children,” CDC.gov, February 9, 2011, http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsUntreatedCavitiesKids/, accessed on February 6, 2012
