'Rapid form of tooth decay is on the rise:' How to keep your child's teeth healthy

MILWAUKEE -- Did you known February is Children's Dental Health Month? It turns out there are quite a few misconceptions out there about kids' teeth -- and Dr. Donald Gundlach with Dental Associates joins Real Milwaukee to clear those up.

According to the National Children's Oral Health Foundation, pediatric dental disease, also known as tooth decay, is the no. 1 chronic childhood illness. In fact, it`s five times more common than asthma.

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also reveals that early childhood caries (ECC), a rapid form of tooth decay, is on the rise. By age five, approximately 60 percent of U.S. children will have had ECC.

Another thought-provoking statistic is an estimated 17 million children in the United States go without dental care each year.