If you bottle feed, you’ve undoubtedly been told not to put the baby to bed with his bottle. The reason is that it could cause baby bottle tooth decay also known as early childhood caries. (As you’ll see in my next blog, caries are not restricted to those babies who are bottle fed.) Here is what you need to know to help prevent serious dental problems in your baby.
Decay happens when sweet liquids are given in a baby’s bottle and left on the teeth for long periods of time afterwards. (Like giving a bottle at night and not brushing gums/teeth afterwards.) Many parents think that it’s just juice that causes problems but the truth is there is sugar in formula (and breast milk) and so really anything with sugar in it can cause an issue. The bacteria in your mouth use the sugars that are left behind as food, and before you know it, your little one could have cavities.
It warrants mentioning that baby bottle tooth decay can be caused by formula but also can be caused by giving your baby sugared liquids (like juice) frequently. Even juice that is 100% juice still has sugar in it.
But They’ll Lose the Baby Teeth Anyways
Most babies lose their teeth but sometimes babies carry their baby teeth into adulthood. (This is more likely if their parent still has baby teeth.) In addition baby help retain a space for the adult teeth to come in properly. Losing baby teeth to decay increases the likelihood that teeth will come in crooked or crowded. In addition, tooth decay indicates diseased gums which will certainly affect the health of your baby’s adult teeth.
What Do I Need to Do to Prevent Baby Tooth Decay?
* Never give your baby a bottle to sleep with. (Water is acceptable but all other liquids are off limits.) This is because the liquid actually pools in the mouth towards the back and so the sugar from the liquid stays on the teeth for a long time and causes decay more rapidly.
* After each feeding clean your baby’s gums with a clean gauze pad. Once your baby has his first tooth, you should brush it and still keep the gums clean as well. You should begin flossing once all of baby’s teeth have come in. . .usually by two and a half years.
* Don’t fill your baby’s bottle with sweetened liquids. Obviously formula is a must (if you’re not breastfeeding) and as your baby gets older 100% fruit juice can add extra vitamins to your baby’s diet as well. But your baby doesn’t need soda, other soft drinks, or juice that has too much sugar in it.
* Ask your child’s pediatrician or dentist how he/she should get fluoride if your local water supply doesn’t get it.