Early childhood cavities, which includes baby bottle tooth decay, is an infectious disease that can be prevented. In Oregon, approximately two-thirds of children from low-income families have cavities. This is an amount approximately 40% higher than for children that are not in low-income families.
Early Childhood Cavities Prevention (ECCP) is a nationwide campaign to increase awareness about the importance of preventive oral health care in an infant's first years.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
It's never too early to prevent dental disease. Primary (baby) teeth are important because they act as placeholders for permanent teeth, aid in proper speech development, nutrition, and self esteem. Cavities can occur in children less than a year old.
The Oregon WIC brochure, "Prevent early childhood cavities", provides useful information about the importance of healthy baby teeth and recommendations to prevent cavities. This colorful and easy to read brochure replaces the popular "Prevent Nursing Bottle Mouth" brochure. This brochure is geared towards parents and caregivers and is appropriate for use in medical, dental, and other social service or public health offices.
Download a pdf version of the brochure. A Spanish version is also available.