Often heard of a term called baby Bottle Tooth Decay by your dentist? Yes it’s a very common form of tooth decay which occurs in children. This develops when baby teeth have frequent and prolonged contact with lots of sugar. This is commonly seen in babies who are put to bed  with a milk bottle, when a bottle is used as a pacifier or if the baby is using a bottle or sippy cup for an extended period of time. Milk also contains natural sweetness and if this stays on teeth for long period of time, bacteria start to grow , multiply and produce acid leading to cavitation in teeth

Signs and Symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay

Decay caused by Baby Bottle Tooth decay can generally form in any of baby teeth, but they might commonly occur on upper front teeth. These can be seen as uncharacteristic white, brown or dark brown spots on teeth. Teeth are prone to breakage and they chip off easily leading to unpleasing smile

Detriments Of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Decay in infants can become a point of concern as if it’s left untreated, there can occur pain and infection. There can occur tooth loss or irregular space between teeth as teeth are brittle and easily chip off. This can lead to deficient eating habits, speech problems and can also harm the permanent tooth bud present inside. Overall dental pain, misaligned teeth, pain on chewing, serious infections are all the potential complications which can occur because of baby bottle tooth decay. If the infection is severe enough, there are high chances dentist might  have to remove baby teeth prematurely which is generally not recommended

 Can Sippy Cups Hurt My Child’s Teeth?

Yes, similar to baby bottles, sippy cups are also responsible for tooth decay. This is to be noted when your child is making a switch from bottle to sippy cup around 1 year of age. Always try for a spill proof cup with a spout which resembles a bottle which can be easily used by the little ones. If this doesn’t work try an alternative, but never give up.

Consequences of baby bottle tooth decay

If you see any sign of tooth decay in your child, contact your nearest dentist soon. If these decay are left untreated, it can lead to pain, infection, poor eating habits, speech problems, crowding in teeth and even damage to the permanent teeth. The worst and the last resort in such cases is to remove these teeth at an early age

 Ways to prevent baby bottle tooth decay

•  Never share saliva with your baby by sharing feeding spoons or licking the pacifiers
•  If you are giving a bottle to the child, fill it with only breast milk or formula milk.
•  Never put your child to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. The sugar present in the liquid will remain on the child’s teeth for hours.
•  If your child is using a pacifier, provide a clean pacifier. Also don’t dip it in honey or sugar
•  Wipe the child’s teeth with clean gauze or wash the child’s mouth after feeding. The gum pads need to be clean always
•  Avoid filling of bottle with any form of sugary drinks or soft drinks
•  Never let the child walk around with bottle of juice or milk
•  Begin brushing a child’s teeth as soon as they grow. Initially use a child size toothbrush and small amount of fluoride toothpaste until age of 3 years
•  Encourage children on healthy eating habits and limit the sugar intake
•  The bottle can be filled with water or the milk can be diluted and lately the dosage of milk can be tapered
•  Schedule regular dental visit by your child’s first birthday

 How do I know when to take my child to the dentist? 

Regular dental visits are generally recommended by a child’s first birthday or when the first tooth can be seen in the oral cavity. If your child’s teeth begin to appear uncharacteristically white, yellow or brown or your child is experiencing pain, they may be facing symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay. Your pediatric dentist can provide you a definite treatment depending on the severity.

Book an appointment today if you are suffering from Tooth Decay and How Do I Prevent!

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