• Weil Nutrition Corner
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Origins
  • Healthy Aging
  • Marketplace
  • Podcasts
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Nutrition
    Recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    Vitamins
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    Health Tips
    Spontaneous Happiness
  • Mushrooms
  • Sleep
Press "Enter" to search
Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Nutrition
    Recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    Vitamins
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    Health Tips
    Spontaneous Happiness
  • Mushrooms
  • Sleep
  • Weil Nutrition Corner
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Origins
  • Healthy Aging
  • Marketplace
  • Podcasts
  • Accessibility
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Health Centers
  4. Children

Toddlers with Bad Teeth?

My little nephew – he’s not yet three – has a mouthful of cavities that have to be filled. The dentist says he’ll need a general anesthetic. She said there’s been a big increase in cavities among little kids. What’s going on?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | May 17, 2012

Royalty free stock photo of 2 years old baby girl headshot. This file has a signed model release. Shot in RAW, post processed in Prophoto RGB, no sharpening applied.
2 min

It is true that dental problems among children under the age of five are on the upswing. Part of the problem is that many parents aren’t aware that children should be taken to a dentist before their first birthday, even before all their baby teeth are in, and simply don’t know about the need for daily gentle tooth brushing as soon as the first tooth appears. A bigger problem, perhaps, is the fact that little kids today consume a lot more sweet drinks (including juice) than they did in the past and seem to get unlimited – and often unhealthy – snacks. Beyond that, too many parents are giving their kids bottled water to drink instead of fluoridated tap water. (If you use bottled or purified water, it is important to give kids supplemental fluoride.)

An article about the growing incidence of dental problems among very young children appeared in the New York Times on March 6, 2012. It explained why so many of them need general anesthesia for dental work: many kids just won’t sit still while a dentist drills their teeth using a local anesthetic. The problem is so widespread that a new surgical wing had to be built by the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital because of the increased need for oral surgery on very young children with tooth decay. The Times also reported that Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, registered a six percent increase in the number of young children treated in 2011 compared to 2010. The average age of the patients there is four, and most have decay in six to eight teeth.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, five times more common than asthma, four times more common than early childhood obesity and 20 times more common than diabetes. Decay is caused by bacteria (primarily Streptococcus mutans) in the mouth that break down carbohydrates left behind from food, producing acids that erode teeth.

Sometimes, parents don’t become aware that children have a problem until a toothache develops and becomes so painful that kids can’t sleep. Apart from scheduling regular visits to the dentist starting before the child’s first birthday, pediatric dentists recommend the following preventive measures:

  • Use a “smear” of fluoridated toothpaste and a soft age-appropriate brush for daily brushing; brushing twice a day is better than once a day. Begin using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste when kids turn two.
  • Don’t breast-feed a baby for prolonged periods.
  • Don’t put babies to sleep with a bottle of milk, formula, juice or sugar water.
  • Put only water in sippy cups, except during mealtime. Drinking milk or juice throughout the day increases the number of bacteria that cause decay.
  • Reduce the number of snacks you give children; sugar and starch in many of them set off the process that leads to decay.
  • Brush your kids’ teeth for them. They can’t do it effectively on their own until they’re about seven years old.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Closeup photo of caring mother holding head on sick daughter forehead
Children

A Mystery Disease in Children?

Mom giving medicine to little girl – I
Children

A Placebo Pill to Comfort Kids?

Acupuncturist prepares to tap needle into patients hand
Children

Acupuncture for Children

Child having points stimulated during an Acupuncture Session.  The style being used was Japanese Acupuncture called Toyohari.  The tool in the picture is called Teishin.
Children

Acupuncture for Kids?

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Dr. Weil's Signature

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

© Copyright 2025 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com