Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

The most preventable and yet one of the most horrible types of tooth decay is that which happens when an infant is allowed to fall asleep with a bottle of milk, formula, fruit juice, or even soda.  I personally have seen this form of very rapid rotting of the teeth many times.  It can happen to anyone including very caring parents that just “want to give their baby what makes him or her happy.”

This condition is easily preventable because all you need to do is not allow your child to sleep with a bottle of anything but water. It is horrible because the tooth decay can occur very quickly and without warning. Baby teeth are very important! And when there are extensive cavities due to baby bottle decay it is very difficult to restore these teeth so that the baby can eat well and the permanent teeth can develop normally.

Stages of Baby Bottle Decay

How does nursing bottle decay affect a child?

It may be tempting to wait for signs of problems before addressing this situation. However, by time the decay is noticeable, it is sometimes too late to save the teeth. Any tooth, no matter how new, can decay quickly if this type of exposure occurs.
Since baby teeth will be replaced some day, should you be concerned? You bet, and there are several reasons why:

• Teeth are important to chewing. Chewing is important to absorption of nutrition. Nutrition is important to your child's growth, health and development.
• Teeth are important to appearance. Appearance is important to your child's self esteem. Your child's self esteem is important to their self confidence. Their self confidence may well determine their degree of success in every area of life.
• Baby teeth are placeholders for permanent teeth. If the baby teeth are lost too early, permanent teeth may come in too crowded or crooked. If that happens you may have to choose between more extensive orthodontic work or teeth which are out of alignment and perhaps unsightly and uncomfortable for life.

How can you prevent nursing bottle decay?

You can prevent baby bottle tooth decay in the following ways.

• After each feeding, use a washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque.  When the first teeth arrive, use a soft brush on the teeth and wipe the gum pads clean.
• Flossing should begin when any two adjacent teeth have arrived and are closely spaced. That usually occurs at about age two.
• Promptly remove any bottle containing any form of sugar when your infant falls asleep. Substitute plain water by 8 to 10 months of age, sooner if your baby primary teeth erupt early.
• If you don't intend to clean your child's teeth afterwards, at least use a clean pacifier (never one dipped in honey or anything sweet) or a nursing bottle filled with cool water.
• See that your child gets proper fluoride doses as prescribed by your dentist or pediatrician.
• Make sure your child's first dental visit occurs around their first birthday, then maintain a regular visit schedule and follow your dentist's advice.  

Parents do many things to assure their children are healthy. Inoculation against childhood diseases, using car seats and seat belts, ensuring their kids get proper exercise, eat right and brush their teeth after meals - these are all important preventive measures practiced by most parents to assure the good health and welfare of their children. An easy way to help avoid all the expense and trauma of baby bottle decay is by simply throwing away all bottles on a child's first birthday.

Please print this out and give this to friends and family with babies. With the information we know today and a little extra care, no child should ever have to experience the disaster of baby bottle tooth decay.