What is baby-bottle tooth decay?
Baby-bottle tooth decay is a painful type of tooth decay found only in infants and toddlers. When baby-bottle tooth decay begins, visible cavities form on the child’s four front teeth (most likely the upper teeth, but decay can be present elsewhere). Over time, the teeth will slowly decay, and eventually cavities will begin to form around the gum line. In the advanced stages of baby-bottle tooth decay, the teeth can be reduced to brown stumps. The lack of baby teeth can cause both physical and emotional problems for children. As they grow older, the missing teeth can cause the child to feel embarrassed or self-conscious about their looks. Physical problems can also be caused. Baby teeth serve a purpose other than allowing a child to eat solid food—they hold the space for future adult teeth. Losing these teeth can cause the remaining baby teeth to move around and invade space needed for a future adult tooth.
What causes baby-bottle tooth decay?
It is commonly caused by children falling asleep with a bottle (filled with any liquid other than water) in their mouth, but it can also be caused by pacifiers or even by breastfeeding if the mother and child fall asleep during the feeding. While it might seem like a good technique for helping a fussy baby sleep, falling asleep with a bottle can cause small amounts of milk or juice to remain in the child’s mouth through the night. The sugar in the remaining liquid feeds bacteria naturally present in plaque on the teeth. The bacteria then produce acids that eat away at the teeth. Eventually these acids will succeed in penetrating the child’s at-risk teeth and form cavities, leading to the process outlined above. Exposing a baby’s mouth to sugar over an extended period can also lead to gingivitis, severe gum disease, or in rare cases, periodontal disease.
How can you prevent baby-bottle tooth decay?
First and foremost, do not allow your baby to fall asleep with a bottle in their mouth no matter how much it might help them relax. If you have to give them a nighttime bottle, only fill it with water. If you need to give the child a milk bottle before bedtime, wait fifteen to twenty minutes before putting them to bed. This will allow for all leftover liquid in the mouth to be dissolved. Do not allow your child to suck on a bottle constantly throughout the day. This is only a habit and not something the child is doing for actual nourishment. If you child does not yet have any visible teeth, wipe the gums clean after each meal or drink. Brush your child’s teeth daily as soon as their first tooth breaks through. You can purchase training toothpaste that is fluoride-free and safe to swallow at your local drug store. It is recommended to brush their teeth twice daily just like most adults do—once in the morning and once before bed.
When the child is able to brush their teeth and spit instead of swallow, start to use toothpaste with fluoride. Talk to your doctor or dentist about providing the child with fluoride through daily vitamins. Do not keep your child on a bottle longer than needed; wean to a sippy cup whenever the child feels comfortable with it. Most importantly, check your child’s teeth regularly, and have scheduled appointments with your dentist. Early detection is the key to preventing serious tooth decay in children.
