 [ Symptoms ] how can i help prevent tooth decay while my child is a baby [ Disease ] did you know that nearly half of all children have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten to prevent early tooth decay get into the habit of wiping your baby is teeth and gums every night before bed limit your baby is intake of juices and sweetened foods and drinks finally one main cause of cavities is the transfer of decay causing bacteria from a parent is mouth usually the mother is to the baby is mouth so avoid putting things like pacifiers into your own mouth before putting it into baby is mouth