(July 6, 2009 - Insidermedicine) Applying a syrup made with the natural sweetener xylitol may help ward off cavities in young children, according to research published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Here are some tips for preventing early childhood tooth decay:

•    Clean your child's mouth and teeth after each feeding

•    If your child falls asleep during feeding, remove the bottle or breast

•    Do not fill your child's bottle with sugary liquids

Researchers from the University of Washington randomly assigned 94 children aged 9 to 15 months to have 8 grams of xylitol syrup applied to the teeth, divided into either two or three daily doses. A third group received a single daily dose of a syrup with only 2.67 grams of xylitol.

After just under a year, 24% of those in the two doses a day group and 41% in the three dose group had tooth decay, compared to more than half in the comparison group. The average number of decayed teeth was 0.6 in both treatment groups and 1.9 in the comparison group.

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Peter Milgrom, D.D.S., the principal investigator of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today's research demonstrates how xylitol syrup may help reduce the risk of dental cavities in young children.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.