Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Childhood Tooth Decay
Number of Conditions: 1
Early Childhood Caries (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)
Specialty: Dental and Oral Health
Category: Pediatric Oral Health Conditions
Sub-category: Childhood Tooth Decay
Symptoms:
white spots on teeth; brown or black spots; tooth pain; sensitivity to sweets or temperature; difficulty eating or chewing
Root Cause:
Tooth decay caused by frequent and prolonged exposure of a child’s teeth to sugary liquids like milk, formula, or juice, especially during bedtime.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Visual dental examination by a dentist; identification of white spots or cavities, sometimes with X-rays for deeper decay.
Treatment:
Removal of decayed areas and restoration with fillings or crowns; fluoride treatments to remineralize early decay; behavior modification for better oral hygiene.
Medications:
Fluoride varnish or gel (topical fluoride for enamel strengthening).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects up to 60% of children in some populations, particularly in underserved communities.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Frequent sugary drink consumption, bottle-feeding at night, lack of fluoride exposure, poor oral hygiene, low socioeconomic status.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with early intervention; untreated, it can lead to severe decay, pain, and infections affecting permanent teeth.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Premature loss of primary teeth, speech issues, misalignment of permanent teeth, abscesses, systemic infections.