Oral Health Topics A–Z

Early Childhood Tooth Decay (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)

Overview

As soon as a baby's first teeth appear—usually by age six months or so—the child is susceptible to decay. This condition is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay or Early Childhood Caries (cavities). In some unfortunate cases, infants and toddlers have experienced severe tooth decay that has resulted in dental restorations or extractions. The good news is that decay is preventable.

Mild Decay	Moderate Decay	Severe Decay

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Early Childhood Tooth Decay (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)

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Additional Resources

• ADA Statement on Early Childhood Caries

Related Web Sites

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

• Dental Care for your Baby
• Policy on Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD)/Early Childhood Caries (ECC) (PDF file)
• Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Unique Challenges and Treatment Options (PDF file)
• Policy on Breast-feeding (PDF file)
• Policy on the Use of a Caries-Risk Assessment Tool (CAT) for Infants, Children and Adolescents

American Academy of Family Physicians

• Taking Care of your Child's Teeth

American Academy of Pediatrics

• Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
• AAP Warns Parents and Pediatricians that Fruit Juice is Not Always the Healthiest Choice
• Oral Health Risk Assessment Timing and Establishment of the Dental Home Policy Statement

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center

• Promoting Awareness, Preventing Pain: Facts on Early Childhood Caries (ECC) (PDF file)
• Trends in Children's Oral Health (PDF file)
• Oral Health and Learning (PDF file)
• Additional Fact Sheets and Other Relevant Materials

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Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses, treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.

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