Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

What is baby bottle tooth decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay is tooth decay in infants and very young children that is often referred to bottle rot.

What causes baby bottle tooth decay?
 
Decay happens when sweetened liquids cling to the child's teeth for a long period of time. There are many factors which can cause decay. Common causes are; when the child is put to bed with a bottle or when a bottle is used to calm fussy children.

Another important thing that causes tooth decay and no parent really thinks about is passing cavity-causing bacteria from them to their child. This bacteria is passed through saliva, so sharing feeding spoons or licking pacifiers to clean them, the bacteria was just passed to your child.

Ways to prevent tooth decay:

• After each feeding, wipe your child's gums with a damp wash cloth if they don't have teeth.
• Try no to share saliva through common feedings, etc.
• If your child has teeth brush them gently with a child toothbrush and a pea sized smear of fluoride toothpaste.
• Try to avoid filling the bottle with sugary drinks, stick to formula.
• Try to avoid sending your child to bed with a bottle.
• Encourage your child to drink from a cup by their 1st birthday.

Keep smiling :)

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