What is “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay” / “Bottle Rot” / “Early Childhood Caries?”
Baby bottle tooth decay / bottle rot / early childhood caries (ECC) is a dental condition that if left untreated, can destroy an infant’s / toddler’s baby (primary) teeth. ECC is caused by frequent and prolonged exposure of sugary liquids to a child’s teeth. Some of these liquids are milk, juice, soda pop, or formula. Bacteria (found in plaque) in a child’s mouth “eats” the sugars found in sweetened liquids, and converts the sugars to acid. This acid can destroy tooth enamel. Every time a child drinks a sweetened liquid, a 20 minute “acid bath” attacks the child’s teeth. When a child is sleeping at nap or bedtime with a bottle filled with milk, juice, soda pop, or formula, the child can not properly swallow, and the liquids pool around the teeth. Tooth decay can occur in no time! This same condition can also result from prolonged demand breast feeding. Children with ECC are in pain and usually do not eat properly. If you put a child to bed with a bottle, make sure it is filled with onl
