baby tooth It's important for parents to realize how crucial baby teeth really are, not only for esthetics, but also for function as they hold places for the permanent teeth. Therefore hygiene, regular brushing is extremely important for children. When brushing a child's teeth, using toothpaste with fluoride is fine providing it's appropriate for a child. Only put paste about the size of a small pea on the brush. It's also important with infants not to put a baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice. This practice can lead to severe tooth decay! Baby bottle tooth decay is a dental condition that can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child. The upper front teeth are the most susceptible to damage, but other teeth also may be affected. Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas, and other sweetened drinks. The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant's teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria that cause plaque. Every time your child consumes a sugary liquid, acid attacks his/her teeth. After numerous attacks, tooth decay can occur, resulting in baby bottle tooth decay. It's also important to understand that a baby's teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in their mouth. By the time the decay is noticed, it may be too late to save the child's teeth. You can prevent this from happening to your child's teeth by knowing how to protect them. Parents should not give an infant a sugary drink at nap or night time. During sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to pool around the child's teeth for an extended period of time. In addition to the above, fluoride is one of the best tools in the fight against tooth decay because it strengthens the teeth, so parents should check with their water district to see if the water is fluoridated. If not use a fluoride toothpaste or your childs pediatrician or dentist can give you a prescription for a fluoride supplement for children ages 0-13 years old. If your child's teeth are lost too early due to baby bottle tooth decay, your child may have some or all of the following problems:  Poor eating habits Speech problems  Crooked teeth Damaged adult teeth in later life Keep your child happy and smiling by preventing baby bottle tooth decay :-)