Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Although your child's baby teeth are temporary, don’t make the mistake of not taking care of them. Baby teeth are even more susceptible to cavities than adult teeth. Adult teeth are tougher, which helps prevent cavities. Tooth decay in toddlers and infants is commonly referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. At Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces, our dentists can prevent and treat baby bottle tooth decay.

There are many factors that can cause bottle tooth decay. Prolonged and recurrent exposure to sugary drinks is the most common factor. The American Dental Association recommends only placing formula, milk, or breast milk in bottles. Avoid sugary drinks like juice, soft drinks, or sugar water. Try to have your child finish their bottle or drink before going to bed. Having a bottle with them in bed allows for moisture to accumulate in their mouth. If they use a pacifier, provide them with a clean one. Do not dip the pacifier in sugar or honey. By their first birthday, encourage them to try drinking from a sippy or age-appropriate cups.

Be wary of germs and bacteria as well. Bottle tooth decay often begins when a mothers saliva is transferred to her child. When the mother transfers a spoon from her mouth to her infants or cleans their pacifier with her mouth, bacteria can be passed to the child. Making sure your child has enough access to fluoride also helps prevent decay. Fluoride can be found naturally in the U.S. water supply in forty-two out of the fifty states.

If you are concerned that your child might be experiencing baby bottle tooth decay, or have any questions about any of our other services, feel free to visit one of Kidz Connextion Dental & Braces offices located around the Phoenix, AZ. area. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit our website at https://www.kidzconnextion.com/.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Parents may not realize, but giving an infant a sugary drink at nap or nighttime is harmful because, during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to linger on the child’s teeth for an extended period of time. This can lead to baby bottle tooth decay and our staff at Kidz Connextion would like you to know the dangers of this condition. Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars. This is why it’s important to clean your infant’s gums with a warm washcloth after each feeding.

Baby teeth are placeholders for permanent teeth, so it is important to keep their gums healthy from birth. If teeth are infected or lost too early due to baby bottle tooth decay, your child may develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth, and perhaps damaged adult teeth. It is important to not only begin brushing your child’s teeth (without toothpaste) when his or her first tooth comes in, you should also schedule regular dental visits by your child’s first birthday.

If you have questions about your child’s dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about our pediatric services here at the office visit www.kidzconnextion.com for more information. To schedule an appointment in Phoenix AZ, call 623-223-1001.