Prolonged nursing from the bottle or breast, particularly at bedtime, puts children at risk.  This type of improper feeding with liquids high in carbohydrates at the critical time when new teeth are first erupting can lead to severe decay before the second year of life.

This can be prevented by discontinuing the use of the bottle at 12-13 months, never using a bottle to induce sleep, and daily cleaning of the gums and teeth.

Early detection of decay is the key to the restoration of this serious form of dental disease.  Fillings or crowns for the affected primary teeth can be placed in the dental office or in some instances, the hospital operating suite. 

When it comes to brushing and flossing for kids, both tasks require good manual dexterity, or in other words, good control of the tooth brush and floss; something most kids do not develop until around age eight. It is important for an adult to brush a child's teeth twice a day to ensure the removal of plaque to prevent tooth decay. Until the age of eight, children should be supervised while brushing. Brushing should last for at least two minutes. But in the case of children, it will generally require a bit more time and patience for the person helping the child.

• Start by using a soft bristled toothbrush with a pea sized amount of toothpaste. Choose a toothpaste that is appropriate for the age of the child. Avoid using toothpaste that contains fluoride until the child is able to consciously avoid swallowing it to prevent fluorosis.
• Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle with the bristles pointed in the direction of the gumline.
• Gently brush the teeth with a circular motion. Brush the outside surface , inside surface , and biting surface of the teeth.

Flossing a child's teeth is often easy because they have fairly large spaces between them. Some children however, do have tight spaces, and require daily flossing to prevent tooth decay between the teeth. Consider using a flossing aide, they are easily used between the teeth, cleaning gently and effectively and allow the child to attempt to floss on their own. 

Pros

-  The composite filling material contains only acrylic resin and glass particles, no mercury.
-  The tooth colored filling material looks very nice and natural.
-  Composite fillings are already hard when you leave the dental office, therefore, you can chew on them whenever you like.
-  Composite fillings don’t corrode or expand over time like amalgam.
-  Less tooth structure is lost because the dentist can make a smaller preparation.

Cons

-  The composite filling material is more expensive.
-  This type of filling usually takes the dentist a little longer to do.
-  These fillings do not get whiter if you bleach your teeth.
-  Insurance companies will not always pay for composite fillings on back teeth.

Dr Doyle prefers composite fillings because tooth structure can be saved, which means less drilling and less chance for fracturing in the future. There is no waiting to eat, no mercury, and they look great! 

ACID ATTACK!

This experiment simulates an acid attack on bones. Bones are rich with calcium, just like your teeth.  When you drink soda pop it affects your teeth like the vinegar affects the chicken bones in this experiment. 

What you'll need:
2 clean chicken bones (ask your parents to save them for you the next time you have chicken for dinner)
1 container
1 bottle of white vinegar

What to do:
Pour several inches of vinegar into the container. Soak the clean chicken bones in the vinegar overnight.

What will happen:
Check out the bones after they've soaked in the vinegar overnight. Are they softer or harder? This is why it’s very important to brush your teeth every night when you go to bed.

Be sure to throw the bones away in the garbage after you're finished.

Note: with any science experiment, it is recommended you have an adult present for supervision.  

They are just baby teeth. Why fix them? What will happen if I don’t?
A: Children go through two phases of teething; the front teeth may be lost between 6 and 8 years of age, while the twelve primary back teeth (molars and canines) are not lost until about age 12. An untreated cavity can create an infection and cause your child pain, facial swelling, missed sleep and time out of school. The back teeth are very important and hold the space for the permanent teeth growing underneath them; if cavities are not fixed, teeth may shift, causing lost space, and more extensive treatment will be needed to correct this problem. The molars are also important for proper chewing and they aid in proper speech. Fixing any cavities when they are small will minimize more expensive repair.