What is “baby-bottle” tooth decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by prolonged exposure of an infants teeth to liquids that contain sugarlike milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks. Never dip a pacifier in sugar or honey; only put water in your childs naptime or bedtime bottle and always wipe your babys gums and teeth with a damp washcloth after each feeding.
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, even watered down fruit juice, and other sweetened drinks.
Baby bottle tooth decay is the creation of many cavities on your baby’s teeth so that only the “stumps” of the teeth can be seen. This condition can occur after only a few weeks of putting your baby to sleep with milk or juice in his or her baby bottle. Because your baby’s tooth enamel is fairly soft, your baby is very vulnerable to tooth decay. Often, there is so much tooth decay that your baby’s teeth cannot be restored.
Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas and other sweetened drinks. The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant’s teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria in plaque. Every time a child consumes a sugary liquid, acid produced by these bacteria attack the teeth and gums. After numerous attacks, tooth decay can begin. The condition also is associated with breast-fed infants who have prolonged feeding habits or with children whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in honey, sugar or syrup. The sweet fluids left in the mouth while the infant is sleeping increase the chances of cavities. Why should I be worried about baby bottle tooth decay? Giving an infant a sugary drink at nap or nighttime is harmful because during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to linger on the child’s teeth for an extended period of time. If left u
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD) is a devastating form of tooth decay that can rapidly destroy a child’s four upper front teeth and lower back teeth by the age of three. BBTD develops when the child’s bottle containing milk, juice or sugar-containing liquids is left in the child’s mouth for prolonged periods of time. A child developing BBTD will experience pain. Treatment is expensive and requires a hospital visit. If teeth need to be extracted, early loss of baby teeth might mean: • Delays in speech development • Difficulty maintaining proper nutrition • Crowding of permanent teeth • Developmental defects in permanent teeth if infection is present How can you prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? START EARLY with good feeding habits. The bottle should only be used at mealtimes, not as a pacifier during the day or night. When feeding, never leave a bottle propped in the child’s mouth. Instead, cradle the child and support the bottle with your hand. Do not bottle feed your child soft drinks, f
