Babies and toddlers who are routinely put to bed with a bottle of milk or juice are at greatest risk for developing tooth decay, usually in the upper front teeth. Sugary liquids from the bottle pool in the child's mouth and coat the teeth, feeding any existing bacteria. Children who breast-feed after their teeth have erupted can also develop dental decay if their teeth are not wiped clean after each feeding, especially at night. Saliva, which helps eliminate the acid, is produced in smaller quantities while sleeping. Streptococcus mutans can also be transmitted from caregivers to babies between the ages of 8 to 33 months, when saliva is passed from mouth to mouth by kissing and sharing food and utensils, for example.
Decay tends to spread quickly in baby teeth.
Once the cavity spreads through the enamel and into the dentin, or middle level of the tooth, it quickly reaches the pulp chamber of the nerve, which is closer to the surface in a baby tooth than in an adult tooth. Decay will eventually work its way down into the short nerve root of the baby tooth, causing the root to die. A cavity can also cause the root to die even if it occurs near the root, but does not extend into the pulp chamber. Options for repairing cavities in children are roughly equivalent to those available to adults. Small cavities can be filled.