|
|
|
|
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: Should I be Concerned?
|
 Baby bottle tooth decay occurs most commonly in babies that take their bottles to bed with them, even if only occasionally. This is true even for those babies that take formula or breast milk in a bottle to bed. The natural sugars in these drinks sit on your child's teeth all night long, combining with the bacteria already present in the mouth, causing acids to form and the enamel to be eaten away. This combination eventually leads to tooth decay. Early decay can result in a multitude of issues with your child's oral and physical health down the road.
Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay One of the easiest ways to prevent tooth decay from a baby bottle is to avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle. This limits the exposure of your child's teeth to sugar, decreasing the incidence of cavities. In addition, only formula, breast milk or water should be fed from a bottle; any other drinks contain too much sugar, putting your child's teeth at risk even more. When a child drinks from a bottle, the liquid is not directly washed down the throat as it is when we drink out of a cup; instead, it is washed over most of your child's gums and teeth, putting them at risk for infection. Before your child even has any teeth, it is important to wash his gums with a soft, damp washcloth at least once a day to remove any lingering bacteria to ensure a future of optimal oral health.
Click an icon below to share our blog.
Back to Blog Home
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
