Whether it is temporary or not, teeth are essential. And if not taken care of, they can cause serious pain and long-term oral problems.
Just as permanent adult teeth, baby teeth are vulnerable to cavities. For very young children, tooth decay is often called Early Childhood Caries, or Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.
It occurs when milk, formula, fruit juices, and other sweetened liquids stick to an infant’s teeth for a long time. Bacteria love this stuff so they flourish and produce acids in the child’s mouth that attack the teeth.
Aside from baby teeth imperative for speaking, chewing, and giving your child a bright smile, the same teeth act as placeholders for the permanent ones. If the baby teeth are lost too early, it may cause a crooked or crowded smile, and even speech problems.
Causes
Baby bottle tooth decay can be caused by a number of elements. One fairly common factor is when the baby teeth are frequently exposed to liquids that contain sugar for long periods of time. This usually happens when children fall asleep with a bottle containing sugary drinks such as milk. A pacifier dipped in honey or sugar can trigger the decay, as well.
Since tooth decay typically begins with bacteria being passed from a primary caregiver to the baby, cavity-causing bacteria may easily be passed through the saliva. When you put a pacifier in your mouth to clean it then place the pacifier in your baby’s mouth, you’re practically transferring bacteria to your child.
Not receiving enough fluoride for the teeth can also increase the risk of your child having baby bottle tooth decay. Fortunately, baby bottle tooth decay can be prevented with good oral hygiene at an early age.
Prevention
In order to prevent baby bottle tooth decay, a series of changes in your and your child’s diet and oral hygiene is necessary.
Avoid sharing cutlery with your baby to prevent passing cavity-causing bacteria to him or her -
- Wipe clean and massage your baby’s gums with a moistened washcloth or gauze pad after every feeding.
- As soon as the baby teeth come in, brush them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush and small amount of fluoride. Be sure to supervise your child until he or she learns to spit the toothpaste instead of swallowing.
- Never let your child to go to bed and fall asleep with a bottle containing sugary liquids. Giving him or her sugary drinks during naps will decrease saliva flow, allowing sugar to linger in your baby’s mouth. Do and finish the feeding before bedtime.
- It’s important that you encourage your child to drink from a cup when he or she turns one. But don’t take away the bottle too soon as the act of sucking helps your child develop facial muscles.
Limit your baby’s consumption of sugar and motivate healthier eating habits -
Schedule a dental check-up with your dentist once your baby’s first tooth appears. Your dentist should know what’s best for your child’s oral health.
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