Even though they are just temporary, your child’s baby teeth are nonetheless vulnerable to cavities. Early Childhood Caries or Baby Bottle Tooth Decay are common terms used to describe tooth decay in newborns and toddlers. For children to talk, chew their food, and have a beautiful smile, they need strong, healthy teeth. Additionally, their initial teeth aid in the proper growth and development of their adult teeth. To help preserve their teeth for many years to come, it’s critical to start newborns out with proper oral hygiene.
What Leads to Tooth Decay in Baby Bottles?
Although other teeth may occasionally be impacted, baby bottle tooth decay most frequently affects the top front teeth.
Tooth decay in infants and toddlers can be caused by a variety of circumstances. Frequent and extended exposure to the baby’s teeth to sugar-containing beverages, such as milk, is one typical reason. Tooth decay may result from using a bottle to put a fussy infant to sleep or from using a bottle as a pacifier on a regular basis.
When cavity-causing germs are transferred from the mother (or primary caregiver) to the newborn, tooth decay may develop. Through saliva, these germs are spread. The bacteria can be transferred to the infant when the mother cleans a pacifier or puts the baby’s feeding spoon in her mouth.
Your child may also be more susceptible to tooth decay if they do not get enough fluoride in their diet. Deterioration can be avoided, which is excellent news.
Preventing Tooth Decay in Baby Bottles
- Refrain from licking pacifiers or sharing feeding spoons. Use a fresh, moist gauze pad or washcloth to wipe your child’s gums after every meal.
- Use a child-sized toothbrush and a smear (or grain of rice-sized quantity) of fluoride toothpaste to gently clean your child’s teeth as soon as they erupt until they are three years old.
- Between the ages of three and six, brush your teeth with a pea-sized dollop of fluoride toothpaste.
- Until your child can be relied upon to spit and not swallow toothpaste, which is often not before the age of six or seven, supervise their brushing.
- Fill bottles with just formula, milk, or breast milk. Steer clear of filling the bottle with liquids like juice, soft drinks, or sugar water.
- Before going to bed, infants should finish their bottles for naps and bedtime.
- If your child uses a pacifier, make sure it’s clean; avoid dipping it in honey or sugar.
- By the time your child becomes one year old, encourage them to drink from a cup.
- Promote a healthy diet.
Make an appointment for your child’s first dental appointment as soon as their first tooth erupts.