Cavities are incredibly common among children. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. Unfortunately, there are several factors that make children more prone to cavities than adults, such as thin enamel, lacking dental hygiene habits, and sugary children’s snacks. However, you may be increasing your son’s or daughter’s risk of tooth decay even more every day without realizing it! Here’s everything you need to know about baby bottle tooth decay and how you can protect your little one’s smile!
What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when baby teeth are exposed to sugary liquids for a prolonged period of time. This happens most frequently when a baby is put to bed with a bottle or when a bottle is used to pacify a fussy baby. If the bottle contains anything besides water, even if it’s a “healthy” drink like milk, juice, or formula, their risk of cavities dramatically increases. As your child sips on their bottle, the sugars in these drinks pool around their teeth and gums, which fuels cavity-causing bacteria. The longer they drink from their bottle, the more sugars, plaque, and bacteria accumulate. This can quickly cause tooth decay in the upper front teeth as well as all their other teeth.
Why Are Baby Teeth Important?
It’s a common misconception that baby teeth don’t need to be taken seriously since they eventually fall out. However, that’s simply not true! Baby teeth play a key role in your child’s oral development and quality of life. Leaving tooth decay untreated in a baby tooth can cause issues such as:
- Difficulties eating comfortably and speaking clearly.
- Bad dental hygiene habits that persist into adulthood.
- Lower self-esteem and confidence.
- Permanent teeth that are impacted, misaligned, or require orthodontic treatment.
- Severe tooth infections that can spread throughout the mouth and body.
How Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Prevented?
Thankfully, a few simple precautions can go a long way in protecting your little one’s precious smile. To keep baby bottle tooth decay at bay, keep these tips in mind:
- Don’t put your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything besides water.
- After feeding, wipe their gums off with a damp gauze or washcloth.
- Start brushing your child’s teeth with a smear of children’s toothpaste the size of a grain of rice as soon as their first tooth appears.
- Avoid putting very sugary drinks into your child’s baby bottle, such as sugar water, soft drinks, or juice.
- Encourage your son or daughter to drink from a cup by their first birthday.
Tooth decay is incredibly common in children, but there are plenty of ways you can help keep your little one’s smile healthy. The best way to treat baby bottle tooth decay is to prevent it, so use these tips and schedule your child’s dental checkups twice a year to keep their smile cavity-free!
About the Practice
Village Pediatric Dentistry has been serving Cumming and the surrounding North Georgia communities since 2012. With a kid-friendly atmosphere and state-of-the-art equipment, we strive to make caring for your child’s precious smile a pleasant experience for both you and your little one. Our highly trained specialists would be happy to provide personalized tips for keeping your son’s or daughter’s oral health on track through every stage of life. To learn more about cavity prevention, feel free to contact us via our website or at (678) 456-5572.