Baby bottle tooth decay is a term used to describe the type of decay that infants and very young children develop which has a characteristic appearance. What makes this decay particularly unique is that often the decay is extremely aggressive and usually restricted to the front teeth, although more advanced cases will show decay that has extended to the back teeth.
Furthermore the decay is initially located predominantly on the inside surfaces, which gives it's unique appearance, as well as making it difficult for parents to notice. A dentist will often recognize it as baby bottle decay simply by it's unique distribution.
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You can help prevent baby bottle tooth decay by following these tips
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As soon as teeth appear, they should be brushed after each feeding. |
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Do not let a child fall asleep with a bottle of sweet liquid such as milk, fruit juices, fruit drinks, cola, etc. |
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If your child insist on a comforter between meals, provide him or her with a bottle of water (preferably fluoridated). |
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This is easy if the child has never been introduced to sweet liquids in the first place. Changing this habit later will require more determination from both parents and child. |
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Have your child see a dentist as soon as teeth are present, especially if you suspect a dental problem. |
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This decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given in a bottle and are left clinging to an infant's teeth for a long time. Many sweetened liquids cause this problem, including milk, formula and fruit juices. Bacteria in the mouth use the sugar as food and then produce acids that attack enamel.
Most of these liquids are not damaging when consumed as a drink, but the trouble occurs when they are left to trickle slowly over long periods of time, thereby slowly and continuously causing acid attacks on the enamel. Short term attacks are well tolerated and consuming these drinks at meal time is not harmful because the body produces large amounts of saliva to dilute and neutralize the acidic by-products.
Please remember that it is how often and how long you expose those teeth to the sweetened liquids. Sometimes parents do not realize that a baby's teeth can decay that fast after they erupt, and by the time the problem is noticed, it may be too late to save them. The resulting premature lost of baby teeth creates space problems for the adult (permanent) dentition. Furthermore, extensive dental treatment on such young infants is usually only possible under sedation or general anesthesia.
