Visit the Floss.com forums and find out what others are talking about.
The 
Up to the minute 
Cavities may slow child’s growth
In articles that appeared in Reuters health and Pediatric Dentistry, researchers at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, found that “improper feeding and poor dental care in children may cause a slow growth pattern in the young”. What the research team at the GW Medical School found was that when a child had early cavity formation, it was usually caused by improper feeding, such as sweetened juices and milk products, as well as lack of dental care. Investigators used 300 toddlers in the study where approximately 50% had extensive cavities and the others did not. The children with the high caries rates equaled approximately 14% less than 80% of their ideal weight.
Dentists recommend that parents begin a good dental hygiene program for their children at an early age. They are urged to start by wiping the infants gums gently with a moistened soft cloth after each feeding and avoid letting the children sleep with liquids that contain juices, milk or other sweetened products. Visiting the pediatric or family dentist can begin at around 1 year old for an oral examination.
Source: Reuter health news April 8th,1999….Pediatric Dentistry 1999; 21:109-113
