According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, our nation’s children are experiencing a dental crisis. They report that 25%-30% of children between the ages of 2 and 5 already have cavities.

While “dental crisis” may be a rather strong phrase, we can’t deny that this new trend is quite disturbing.

This says a few things about the current state of our children’s dental health:

• Not as many children are visiting the dentist as often as they should, if at all;
• Children are not practicing good dental habits on a regular basis, such as daily brushing; and
• Children are consuming more sugary and acidic products, such as soft drinks, than they have in the past.

The great thing is that all three of these factors can be easily prevented! All it takes is implementing a daily toothbrushing regimen of twice a day, cutting down the amount of sugary foods and drinks your children consume, and taking your child to the dentist by the time he or she is three years old–a good general rule is no earlier than two unless directed by a physician.

That’s really all there is to it. Two of the preventative measures don’t even cost you a thing. The big question is if you, as a parent, are following through. Remember, if you don’t cut down your sugar intake, brush your teeth daily, or visit the dentist, chances are astronomical that your children will follow suit. If you have children younger than two, this is the best time to introduce your child to brushing his or teeth by having them watch you brush and floss yours.

This is definitely one statistic you do not want your child to be a part of.

It has been thought that infection-causing bacteria develops in the mouth during early childhood, or at the earliest, when infants start developing teeth (usually around 4-6 months). However, a new study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and two research institutes in Lubbock, Texas has found that bacteria develops in infants BEFORE they start to sprout teeth, including Streptococcus mutans bacteria.

This in effect means that dentists and parents need to adopt new strategies when it comes to preventing cavities in their young children.

“We want to characterize the microbiological evolution that occurs in the oral cavity between birth and tooth eruption, as teeth erupt, and as dietary changes occur such as breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, liquid to solid food, and changes in nutrient profile,” explained Kelly Swanson, lead researcher and Associate Professor of Animal and Nutritional Sciences.

As a result, this could reopen up the debate on breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding, when it is best to introduce infants to solid food, and what solid foods babies should be initially introduced to. But we’ll have to wait and see what future research proves in regards to feeding habits and how it affects bacteria pre-baby teeth.

However, it does strongly back up what pediatricians and pediatric dentists have been saying for years. Bottle-feeding should stop at the latest at 14 months, and parents should never let their babies sleep with bottles. Sleeping with a bottle that contains milk or formula will prolong exposure to sugars in the baby’s mouth, which will trigger bacteria development–bacteria just love to eat sugar–and start tooth decay. Most importantly, even when there are no baby teeth present, you should always clean your baby’s gums twice a day with a cloth or a special baby toothbrush–such as a finger toothbrush.

Even if your dentist is not a specialized pediatric dentist, you can always ask about best practices for your baby’s dental health. Your dentist may not be able to see your infant in a scheduled office visit, but he or she will always have dental care advice.