Preschoolers With a Mouthful of Cavities.

In Washington, a two-and-a-half-year-old had to undergo dental surgery after dental x-rays showed that 11 of his 20 baby teeth had cavities. The pediatric dentist extracted two incisors, performed a root canal on a molar, and gave the rest fillings and crowns. The child’s parents did not even worry about brushing their child’s teeth until they noticed his teeth were discolored. They stated they had too much to consider than brushing his teeth at night. It is not as uncommon as you may first think.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they noted an increase, the first in 40 years, in the number of preschoolers with cavities in a study five years ago. Dentists nationwide say they see more preschoolers at all income levels with 6 to 10 cavities or more. The level of decay is so severe that they often recommend using general anesthesia because young children are unlikely to sit through such extensive procedures while awake.