"There are more school hours missed from cavities than any other health condition in kids," says Dr. Joel Berg, chair of the department of pediatric dentistry at the University of Washington.

As the CDC points out in its report, untreated cavities may cause a number of other problems, including absence from school, dysfunction, pain and poor appearance - "problems that can greatly reduce a child's capacity to succeed in life."

Why childhood tooth decay on the rise? Dr. Berg says there are two main reasons - kids eat too many sweets throughout the day and they don't get the dental care they need.

"If we get the kids in as soon as the first teeth erupt and no later than age one," Dr. Berg says, "we can talk to the families about the things they need to do to prevent the cavities from forming in the first place."

For instance, he wants parents to know that kids don't have the dexterity to do a good job brushing their teeth on their own until they reach school age. That means "you need to do it for them," he says. "Encourage them to do it, so they get in the habit, but supervise it for them."

You should add flossing to the routine once the baby teeth start to touch each other.

The bottom line: dental health experts say parents need to realize that cavities in baby teeth can lead to problems when the child's permanent teeth come in.

For more information:

UW School of Dentistry: Information for parents

Tooth Decay FAQS

How to care for your baby's teeth

How to care for your child's teeth

Are you feeding your kids tooth-friendly foods?