What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay occurs in infants and very young children, when liquids whether it is sweetened or with natural sugars such as milk and fruit juice stick to their teeth for a long time which makes bacteria to thrive in the mouth and produce acids that is harmful for the teeth of infants.
Experts suggest that it should be avoided to give an infant a sugary drink right before sleeping as it is harmful because the flow of saliva decreases while sleeping.
What causes baby bottle tooth decay?
Bottle tooth decay happens when baby teeth are frequently affected by too much sugar. Sugar stuck in teeth becomes the reason for bacteria to thrive and produce acid which attacks the teeth and tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. The sugar is found in milk, infant formula, juice, snacks, etc.
How do you prevent baby bottle tooth decay?
By implementing good oral hygiene in infants and young children, the tooth decay can be staved off. While feeding a baby, there are a few simple steps that can help to prevent the baby bottle tooth decay from occurring:
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After each feeding, smoothly wipe the gums of the baby with a clean gauze pad or washcloth.
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you can start brushing the baby's teeth, without using a toothpaste, when his or her first tooth comes in.
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Also you can clean and massage baby's gums and the areas without teeth.
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Bottles being used to feed baby shouldn't be filled with sugar water and soft drinks. Bottles are meant for milk, water, formula.
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Keep the children away from soft drinks as they lack or have no nutritional value.
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Generously do not let the child fall asleep with a bottle in his or her mouth containing anything except water.
Can baby bottle tooth decay be reversed?
Good news is that it can be reversed but it would be more appropriate if it is avoided. Baby bottle tooth decay can be reversed or avoided by bringing a few changes to your baby's diet for instance putting a limit on the acidic foods and juices, substituting water for juice, formula or milk in your child's bottle. But, make sure that you make these changes in coordination with your child's pediatrician and/or pediatric dentist because some dietary changes can be unsuitable depending upon the child's age, overall health and nutritional requirements.
How can baby bottle tooth decay treated?
If left untreated, baby bottle tooth decay can lead to the loss of teeth. It can be treated by a pediatric dentist. The treatment ideally aims at treating the teeth with dental restorations (fillings) or crowns.
More importantly the dentist can best suggest you about the treatment procedure of teeth. Usually the baby's teeth are filled like an adult's, but If there are many decayed teeth, the pediatrician may give the baby some medicine (a sedative) to make him or her sleepy during the treatment. If much of the tooth has decay, the dentist may use a crown on the tooth to protect them and prevent new decay. In case of a severe decay, the dentist will take out the tooth to prevent harm.
What Are the Signs of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
The tooth decay has various causes and can occur in any of the teeth. However, the upper front teeth are more likely to be affected by a decay. Tooth decay can turn out in the form of dark or brown spots on the teeth. The children might feel pain and swelling around the teeth due to a worsening decay.
