While a growing number of her parent peers try to pacify their toddlers with sugary treats, Julie Vest from Land O' Lakes, Fla., wants her toddler's grin to be healthy and free of cavities.

Vest gives her almost-2-year-old multivitamins with fluoride because fluoride is not in the water in her neighborhood. "She gets balanced nutrition from vegetables, meats, fruit," Vest says. "She drinks milk [and] a lot of water." She also limits her daughter's juice consumption to 8 ounces a day, and dilutes her apple and favorite peach juice with water.

"I brush her teeth for her with toddler toothpaste," Vest says. "I plan to take her to the dentist at 2 or 2 1/2. I will talk to her about the difference between the dentist and doctor. She associates the doctor with shots."

More dentists today say they are seeing toddler patients with cavities. Dr. Allen D. Bagdade, a pediatric dentist in Arlington Heights, Ill., says one of the reasons toddlers develop cavities is because of their bedtime habits. He says toddlers develop bottle decay by sleeping with a bottle of milk or juice at night. The juice coats the teeth, especially at night when a toddler salivates less.

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