Tooth decay at an early age is very common among children below the age of 5. Also known as Early childhood caries, it should be avoided when the symptoms are seen at the first time. The child will begin to show symptoms in the early age and the parents should immediately take them to the dentist. They can provide the best treatment for the childhood tooth decay. The type of the treatment will depend on upon the severity of the decay. The treatment will be less invasive and extensive if the problem is addressed at an early age.

The treatment varies based on the severity of your child’s condition and his/her age. At an early stage, the dentist will recommend a formula for a good treatment and management. The surface of the teeth will contain few spots and they are the primary symptoms of early childhood tooth decay. Fluoride treatment or placing fluoride varnish are used at an early stage to mineralize all the teeth. The decay will be reversed at an early stage using this treatment by helping to rebuild the surface enamel. Fluoride supplements are also recommended by your dentist. To avoid the progress of decay, required amount of nutrients should be given to your child through foods. Some changes should be done to your child’s food habits which include the following.

• Acidic foods should be limited.
• Juices, especially citrus juices must be limited.
• Substitute water for formula, juice or milk in the bottle.

All the changes must be coordinated with your child’s pediatrician or a dentist. Some dietary changes can be made depending on your child’s overall health, age and nutritional needs. Fluoride treatment will not be sufficient if the decay is spotted at later stages. Severe decay will have many symptoms which includes:

• Bad breath
• Swollen or bleeding gums.
• Black or brown spots on the teeth.
• Swelling, irritability or fever will lead to some major infection.

Take your child to the dentist as soon as possible if any of these symptoms are observed. Spreading of decay can cause tooth loss and extensive restoration treatment.

Many people have a misconception that the premature baby teeth loss is not a huge problem. Those teeth will fall off anytime and so why to worry about them falling off earlier than scheduled. But there are many explanations to be noted about the loss of teeth at a premature stage.

Permanent teeth are present in the jawbone of your child from an early age into adulthood. The milk teeth actually act as a placeholder for the permanent teeth. The loss of baby teeth at a premature stage will affect the spacing of the permanent teeth. This premature loss of the baby teeth causes misalignment of the permanent teeth in the future and thus require extensive orthodontic treatment. So this loss of teeth is caused mainly due to the early childhood decay. This can be avoided by maintaining good food habits and good hygiene habits.