Risk Factors for Early Childhood Caries

• High exposure to sugar (sucrose)
• Night time bottles with milk, juice, or soda
• Frequent use of sippy cups with sweet drinks
• Early oral exposure to common mouth germs (Mutans streptococci) from a caregiver with poor oral health who accidentally spreads germs to the child
• Abnormal tooth development from genetics or malnutrition
• Previous caries in the child or family
• Low socio-economic status
• Poor access to dental care
• Poor oral health habits (such as lack of regular tooth brushing)
• Developmental and behavioral problems or disorders in the child

Caries risk is even higher for children with special needs due to the following reasons:

• Diet
  • Usually harder to maintain a proper diet in those individual
• Xerostomia
  • Dry mouth due to medications
• Difficulties performing oral hygiene
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and vomiting
• Gingival hyperplasia and crowding of the teeth
• Malocclusion and Crowded Teeth
• Dental Anomalies
• Trauma
• Problems With Oral Care