The bacteria that cause tooth decay can be transmitted from mother to baby through saliva, says Mark Helping, DDS, pediatric dentist in Pennsylvania. If your oral hygiene is poor and you taste your baby’s food and then stick the same spoon in his mouth, you are putting him at risk. Dr. Paul Hettinger, a Florida dentist and dental hygienist? Many parents don’t think it’s necessary to pay much attention to cavities in baby teeth because they’ll fall out sooner or later, says Hettinger. But the problem is that if a baby tooth is removed too early because of severe decay, other teeth will crowd in to take up the space, eventually leaving your child’s mouth a mess. Wisconsin dentist and cosmetic dentist Chris? I call soda a “liquid chainsaw,” and it erodes teeth,” says Wisconsin cosmetic dentist Chris Cammer, DDS. Soda is not just sugar water, it’s an acid. Lin Shirong, chairman of the Taipei City Dental Association, says: When drinking acidic beverages such as soda and lemonade, it’s best to use a straw to minimize direct damage to tooth enamel from the acid. Children with dental problems often seem aggressive in school, says Winfrey J. Booker, DDS, a pediatric dentist in Maryland. They have trouble paying attention and are easily agitated. Teachers will say they have behavioral problems, when in fact these kids probably just have a toothache. Excerpted from Dental Home