How To Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

One of the most serious dental health problems that can affect infants and young toddlers is known as “baby bottle tooth decay.” This type of tooth decay can cause significant damage to your child’s baby teeth. 

Luckily, it’s fairly easy to avoid. In this blog from Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about baby bottle tooth decay and how to avoid it.

What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Explaining The Basics

As the name suggests, baby bottle tooth decay is most often related to putting your baby to bed with a bottle. If the bottle is filled with juice, milk, formula, or anything other than water, this can lead to baby bottle tooth decay.

If your child goes to sleep sucking on a bottle, a small amount of the liquid may remain in their mouth. This liquid may rest on their front teeth, particularly their upper front teeth. Then, bacteria in your child’s mouth will feed on this sugar-rich liquid.

As they feed, the bacteria will digest the sugar and turn it into acid. This acid weakens your child’s teeth, removing important minerals from the enamel. Eventually, this leads to tooth decay (cavities). If your child has baby bottle decay, you may start to see dark brown spots and discoloration on their front teeth.

Baby bottle tooth decay can cause sensitivity and discomfort, problems chewing, and even lead to tooth infections. If you think your child has cavities, you should see a dentist like Dr. Wendy to discuss your options for treating them and restoring their oral health, such as dental fillings.

How Do I Avoid Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Top Tips & Recommendations

While baby bottle tooth decay is a serious problem, it’s easy enough to avoid. Here are a few tips that will keep your child’s teeth healthy.

• Never put your child to sleep with a bottle, unless it’s just water – Putting your child to sleep with a bottle is the most common contributing factor that may cause cavities. Unless it only contains water, never let your child sleep with a bottle.
  
• Avoid saliva cross-contamination – Cavity-causing bacteria actually pass between kids and their parents. So minimizing transfer of saliva between parents and kids can help reduce their risk. Try to avoid kissing your child on the lips, sharing cups, and other things that may transmit oral bacteria.
  
• Brush your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice per day – Brush your child’s teeth at least twice a day, starting as soon as their first tooth erupts. Kids who can’t spit on command should have their teeth brushed with a blob of toothpaste that’s about the size of a grain of rice. Older kids who can spit and avoid swallowing toothpaste can use a blob of toothpaste that’s the size of a pea
  
• Feed them a healthy, low-sugar diet – Don’t give your child juice, sugar water, or other sugary beverages. They should only drink water, formula, or milk. Avoid other sugary and starchy treats, too. A healthy diet means a healthy mouth!
  

Need A Pediatric Dentist In San Diego? Schedule A Consultation With Dr. Wendy! 

Did you know that children are supposed to start seeing the dentist when they turn one year old, or whenever their first tooth erupts? Routine dental visits with a pediatric dentist like Dr. Wendy will help protect your child’s oral health, and build great dental habits that will stick with them for their whole lives.

So don’t wait. Whether you’re new to the area, a new parent, or just haven't brought your child to the dentist yet, Sprouting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is here for you. Contact us online or call today at (858) 888-9298 to schedule an appointment.