Early Childhood Caries
Understanding the causes, prevention, and treatment of cavities in young children.
Early childhood caries (ECC) is defined as the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in a child under 6 years. It is the most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. Risk factors include frequent sugar consumption, inadequate oral hygiene, lack of fluoride exposure, and certain bacterial strains. Treatment depends on severity: early white spot lesions may be reversed with fluoride, moderate cavities require fillings, and severe cases may need stainless steel crowns or extraction. The strongest preventive measures are twice-daily fluoride toothpaste, dental sealants on molars, regular dental visits, and limiting sugary foods and drinks.