Can Babies get Cavities?
One serious form of decay among young children is “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay”. This condition is caused by frequent and long exposures of an infant’s teeth to liquids that contain sugar. Among these liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks. Putting a baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay. Sweet liquid pools around the child’s teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, it should contain only water. After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down, place the child’s head in your lap or lay the child on a dressing table or the floor. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the child’s mouth easily.
Yes. As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. One serious form of decay. This condition can occur when an infant is allowed to nurse continuously with a bottle of milk, formula, sugar liquids such as fruit juices or kool-aide during naps or at night. These liquids will “pool” around the child’s teeth during sleep, allowing the teeth to be attacked by acids for long periods of time, resulting in significant tooth decay. If you must give your baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, make sure it contains only water. And never dip a pacifier into sugar or honey.
