Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, What Does it Mean?

Oral health of children is one big challenge for parents that should be taken care of at earliest. Tooth decaying is the most common infectious disease in children and is often known as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. In today’s times, when parents are working and children are given a lot of packaged food, Baby Bottle Tooth decay has become a very common problem. Children, who consume a lot of sweet products, are more at risk.

Sadly, most of the times, parents think that baby teeth are not important as they fell off one day. Although baby teeth are temporary, they are needed for chewing, speaking and smiling and most importantly they are the placeholders for upcoming adult teeth. If a child loses his baby teeth too early, it may develop speech problems, damaged adult teeth, poor eating habits, and/or crooked teeth. Such children may need to go for dental implants at a tender age. 

Children should be helped in developing healthy oral habits as soon as possible as baby bottle tooth decay may happen with the onset of first tooth of the child. 

Causes & prevention

Acid-producing bacteria infect the baby’s teeth. The infection can even be passed to kids by their parents or caregivers through their saliva. Many a times, before feeding the child, we tend to taste and/or test the food with the same spoon that we later on use to feed the child. 

Children may develop baby bottle tooth decay if a child’s teeth are exposed to any liquid (other than water) for longer time periods as sugars (natural or added) turn into acid to form bacteria. The worst is when we put our kids’ to bed with milk, formula or any other liquid in their mouth. Causes are many but precautions stated under can definitely help you to prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay in your child.

Key precautions to prevent Baby bottle tooth decay:

• The most important precaution that should take is to take care of your own oral health while you are pregnant. Consult a dentist during pregnancy. You can simply visit the best dentist near me at least once in your pregnancy period.
• An infant’s gums should be kept clean by wiping them with a baby washcloth. Even on the onset of first teeth start brushing them gently with a soft brush. Use fluoride-based toothpaste preferably. 
• Make sure that you don’t put your child to bed with a bottle of milk and/or any other drink as this will not only risk your child’s oral health but your child will be more prone to ear infections and chocking.
• Prefer giving water to your child if he is used to sippers or pacifiers. 
• Try to teach your child to drink from a regular cup especially when the child is already over 12 months old.
• Avoid giving sticky and sugary foods to your child often. Even juices should be avoided or can be served with food only.
• Don’t forget to brush your child’s teeth before putting them to bed.
• Visit a paediatric dentist at least once in the first year of the child.

Taking all the above said precautions will definitely help you to save your child from Baby Bottle Tooth Decay and prevent dental implants in Las Vegas as well as other problems for your children.