The Dangers of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
July 07, 2017 ABC Children's Dentistry
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 out of 10 children in the U.S. will have at least one cavity – or more – by the time they turn 5. A big source for those cavities is the baby bottle.
It’s called “baby bottle tooth decay,” and we’ll talk about it in this issue.
What is baby bottle tooth decay?
It occurs when you or a caregiver give your child too much milk, formula or juice to drink. These sweetened liquids will cling to your infant’s teeth for an extended period of time.
The problem is that there are bacteria in your infant’s mouth which thrive on sugar and will make acids that attack the teeth,
What are the danger times for baby bottle tooth decay?
Giving your child a sugary drink right at bedtime – even for a nap – can be particularly harmful. Also, giving your child a bottle while reclined will allow for the drink to pool around your child’s teeth, giving it more time to cause damage.
What’s the worst that can happen from baby bottle tooth decay?
The nasty bit about baby bottle tooth decay is that you probably won’t see any sign of it until your child’s teeth begin to deteriorate.
If left untreated, baby bottle tooth decay can be severe. Treatment an require extensive dental restoration and extractions.
How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?
There are a number of things you the parent or caregiver can do to limit your child’s exposure to baby bottle tooth decay.
These include:
- Not allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle of anything besides water
- Wiping your child’s gums with a gauze pad or washcloth after each feeding
- Brushing your child’s teeth – without toothpaste – when the first tooth comes in
- Cleaning and massaging the gum areas that have no teeth
- Not giving your child sugar water or sodas
For Compassionate and Fun Pediatric Dental Care, Call ABC Children’s Dentistry in San Diego
To schedule an appointment for your child’s dental care, call ABC Children’s Dentistry here in San Diego.
You can reach us online, via email or call us at 858-780-9794.
