We now know that caries (tooth decay) is a chronic preventable infectious bacterial disease. It is also due to many factors being present over time.
Principal risk factors include:
- parents’ and child’s past decay experience
- frequency of snacking on sugars/cooked starch/sweet drinks
- bottle use
- sleeping with a bottle
- on demand feeding after the introduction of solids
- obvious presence of plaque on teeth
- white spots, or actual cavities
- oral or orthodontic appliances
- child has special needs or medical condition
- llimited health knowledge
A risk assessment will be done to gauge likelihood of tooth decay to prevent future problems