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What is ECC & How is it Treated?

Writer's picture: Dr. KrisDr. Kris

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and its more advanced version, Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC), are childhood dental diseases. The condition exists when a child has more teeth with cavities than their age in years, and or has visible cavities on their front teeth. 

The condition is very serious condition which we in New Mexico can best understand by comparing it to a forest fire. When environment conditions are most severe, a small fire can lead to quick destruction of the entire forest. Similarly, what may appear as a minor cavity can quickly escalate, leading to cavities on almost all teeth.


How does it happen?

The development of cavities relies on 3 factors: cavity causing bacteria, carbohydrate, and a tooth to grow on. 


The bacteria live in the plaque on a tooth and eat carbohydrates made available when a person eats. The bacteria process the carbohydrates and create acids. The acid dissolves the tooth, which allows the bacteria to penetrate deeper into the tooth and the process continues and worsens. An imbalance in any of these factors will increase the risk of cavity development. For example, too much carbohydrate, too much bacteria, or challenging teeth to clean. 


What are common factors that increase the risk of developing ECC or S-ECC in a child?

Bacteria: The bacteria in a child’s mouth come from 2 routes of transmission. First is vertical transmission. Vertical transmission is when bacteria transfer from a parent to a child. The second transmission type is called Horizontal Transmission, which is when bacteria transfers from a sibling, friend, or person in the community. In this way, cavities are contagious. 


Carbohydrate: This sounds simple, but it’s important to think of all the different sources providing dietary carbohydrates. Most people think soda and candy when a kid develops cavities. Fruits, milk, and crackers are common childhood snacks all of which have loads of carbohydrate. 


Teeth: The teeth must be kept clean to avoid the development of cavities. All too often young children do not get their teeth brushed. Either they are so young, that parents don’t realize they need to do it or caregivers allow children to brush their own teeth long before they have the coordination and understanding to do a proper job. Other factors like crowding can also make cleaning difficult. 


Once a child crosses the threshold and has a diagnosis of ECC or S-ECC, cavities grow an uncontrollable pace. Even changes to brushing and diet are often inadequate alone. Most times, children need extensive dental work to stop the damage and a complete overhaul of home habits to stop the disease. Even with this, some people will carry a heightened cavity risk their whole lives.


Here at Dentistry for Kids, we want to help prevent cavities whenever possible and can work together to make a dental health plan that equals success. Routine dental visits and treatment are the best solution for ECC.



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Dentistry For Kids complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 

Dentistry For Kidscumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. 

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