ERIC Number: ED367516
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1989
Pages: 8
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Reducing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. A SERVE Research Brief.
Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE), Tallahassee, FL.
This pamphlet discusses strategies for reducing baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) among Native American children. BBTD in infants and toddlers is a painful disease characterized by extensive decay of the upper front and side teeth. It is caused by prolonged exposure of teeth to carbohydrates, such as those contained in infant formula, milk, and fruit juice. Treatment for BBTD is painful and expensive as affected teeth must be capped, filled, or extracted, which sometimes involves sedating and hospitalizing the child. Long-term affects of BBTD include a higher incidence of orthodontic problems and psychological and social problems affecting children embarrassed over their appearance. Recommendations for effective community intervention programs include encouraging community members to participate in program development, training community members to act as peer counselors, and targeting caregivers. Other strategies include collecting data on the prevalence of BBTD at the local level and initiating a mass media campaign to raise community awareness of BBTD. Essential in developing an intervention program is assessment of community cultural belief systems to identify factors that have a direct impact on child-rearing practices. The document includes resources for additional information and a parent information sheet on BBTD. (LP)
Publication Type: Information Analyses; Guides - Non-Classroom
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Parents
Language: English
Sponsor: Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE), Tallahassee, FL.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A