Keeping Children's Cavities at Bay.

• Position: ORAL HEALTH

Nearly 20% of children aged 5-11 have at least one cavity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga. "We continually see young patients that suffer from tooth decay and cavities due to lack of proper dental hygiene," says Robert Brody, chief clinical officer at Great Expressions Dental Centers, New York.

"Many parents don't recognize the negative effects of unhealthy baby teeth because they know they will be replaced with adult teeth. It's important that we care for children's teeth at early stages, as baby teeth serve a number of critical functions, including speech development."

Following are recommendations parents should follow to prevent dental cavities in children:

* Keep gums clean, beginning with newborns. Your child may not even have teeth yet, but it is vital to keep gums healthy for proper development of teeth. Wipe the gums with a clean baby washcloth and gently brush with a soft baby toothbrush once you see the first tooth. For older children, use a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste to brush teeth.

* Bottle-less bedtime. Giving your infant a bottle at bedtime is a...