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Baby Bottle Tooth
Decay
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Baby Bottle
Tooth Decay, or Baby Bottle Syndrome, or Nursing Bottle Mouth are all
terms used to describe a dental condition which involves the rapid decay of
many or all the baby teeth of an infant or child.
The teeth most
likely to be damaged are the upper front teeth. They are some of the first
teeth to erupt and thus have the longest exposure time to the sugars in the
bottle. The lower front teeth tend to be protected by the tongue as the
child sucks on the nipple of the bottle or the
breast.
Baby
Bottle Tooth Decay is caused by frequent exposure of a child’s teeth for
long periods of time to liquid containing sugars. When your baby falls
asleep with:
- a bottle
containing formula, milk or juice
- a pacifier
dipped in honey
The liquid pools around the
front teeth. During sleep, the bacteria living in every baby’s mouth, turns
the milk sugar or other sugars to acid which causes the
decay.
Severe Baby Bottle
Tooth Decay
Parents
may not know there is a problem until serious damage has been
done:
- Oral checks
should be performed by parents to detect early signs of the disease
- Brown spots
along the gumline on your child’s teeth are signs which should alert
you.
- If your child
prefers soft foods, frowns or cries when eating cold, sweet, or hard
foods, they should be checked for tooth decay.
By the time tooth decay is noticed it may be too late and crowns,
pulp therapy, or even extraction of the decayed teeth may be necessary. As a
result, your child may suffer from long term disorders which include speech
impediments, possible psychological damage, crooked or crowded teeth, and
poor oral health.
You can prevent
this from happening to your child’s teeth by learning how to protect
them.
- clean your
child’s teeth daily
- never allow
your child to fall asleep with a bottle filled with juice, milk, or
formula (or when awake, sip on it for long periods of time as a
pacifier)
- start bottle
weaning by at least a year
- give your
child plain water for thirst
- make sure your
child gets the fluoride needed to prevent decay
- have regular
dental visits for your child beginning when their first tooth
erupts
TIP: Cut back on sugary bottles
by gradually watering them down until they are only
water.
Most children begin
life with strong, healthy teeth. Help your child’s teeth stay that way. Your
newborn is totally dependent upon you as a parent. The decisions you make
will have a vital effect on your child’s dental
future.
Your
dental hygienist can provide you with more information which can improve the
care of your child’s teeth and maximize their oral
health.
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