Baby Bottle Tooth Decay – Things You Need To Know

Tooth decay in the very early years of life is commonly referred to as baby bottle tooth decay. The reason it is called as such is that the tooth decay at this age usually occurs due to consumption of sweetened liquids and the natural foods which are usually high in sugar. When the sugars are not washed away from the mouth, they can cause bacterial to cling with the teeth and form decay.

The children who are specifically at risk of developing baby bottle tooth decay mainly include the ones who are given pacifiers dipped in syrup or sugar. Moreover, many moms give their infants sugary liquids during their nap time. It can be particularly harmful because sugars tend to stay in the mouth for longer period of time and the bacteria find extra opportunity to release decay producing acids.

The most affected teeth by baby bottle tooth decay are the upper front teeth. However, other teeth, including the back teeth, can also get infected in this regard.

Now, you may tend to think that baby teeth are temporary so they do not matter much. This is the most wrong approach you can go for. Leaving the baby bottle tooth decay untreated can lead to pain and infection. If the teeth become severely decayed, they may need to be extracted.

Lost baby teeth can result in a number of issues. For instance, your child may develop poor eating habits. Speech problems, crooked teeth and damaged adult teeth are the other consequences which can occur due to lost baby teeth.

There are only a few simple things that you need to do if you want to avoid baby bottle tooth decay in the teeth of your child.

• Keep the gums of your baby clean with the help of gauze or a soft cloth. Damp the cloth before using it.
• You need to use brush when the first tooth erupts. Do not use the toothpaste. The toothbrush’s bristles should be soft.
• Massage and clean the gums which have not received any teeth yet.
• Fluoride is helpful for people belonging to any age group. Therefore, you have to make sure that you are giving your child enough fluoride. However, the fluoride should not be in excess amount or it can cause fluorosis.
• Taking your child to the dentist is mandatory. At the age of 6 months, the child needs to have a dental checkup. Visiting the dentist every six months can ensure better dental health of your child.

Tooth decay in children can be quite problematic no matter how simple and harmless it may look. Therefore, preventing tooth decay is very important.