What’s Baby Bottle Decay?

 It’s 2:00 AM and the baby is crying.  You’re tired, you need your sleep, so what’s a parent often do?  We give the baby a bottle to calm it down.  Many a well meaning parent has unknowingly made a big mistake by calming the baby with a bottle loaded with sugar.  Last week I talked about the process of dental decay.  This week I would like to get a little more specific and talk about a decay process known as “Baby Bottle Syndrome”. 

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by frequent, long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars.  The problem usually occurs when a child is put to bed with a bottle.  Many of the drinks we put in the bottle contain sugars.  Some of the liquids you might not realize contain sugar are milk and formula.  More obvious liquids are fruit juices, sodas and other sweetened drinks.  The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant’s teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria contained in plaque.  Every time a child consumes a sugary liquid, acid from the feeding bacteria attacks the teeth and gums.  Over time these attacks can lead to decay.  If left untreated, baby bottle decay can result in severe decay, pain and infection.  It is most often associated with the upper front teeth, but can occur anywhere in the mouth.  Baby bottle decay is also associated with breast fed infants who have prolonged feeding habits or with children whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in honey, sugar or syrup.  Any of these sweet fluids left in the infants’ mouth greatly increases the chances of decay.

Why Should I Worry, They’re Just “Baby Teeth”

A child’s primary teeth (baby teeth) are just as important as the permanent adult teeth.  Primary teeth typically appear at about 6 months of age.  They help a child to chew, speak and also hold space in the jaws for permanent teeth that are developing under the gums.  If the primary teeth are lost or become infected, the child may develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth or damaged permanent teeth.  Healthy “baby teeth” typically result in healthy permanent teeth.  Developing good habits at an early age will help the child have good oral health for a lifetime.

How Can I Prevent Baby Bottle Decay?

Sometimes parents don’t realize that a baby’s teeth can decay soon after they appear in the mouth.  Parents can help prevent this from happening by following some of the tips below:

• First of all, never allow children to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, juice or other sweetened liquids.
• Only give infants a bottle during meals.  Don’t use it as a pacifier and don’t allow the child to walk around with it or to drink from it for extended periods.
•  Avoid filling a child’s bottle with liquids such as sugar water and soft drinks.
• Soon after birth develop good habits and oral health by massaging the baby’s gums with a moistened washcloth or gauze.  This should be done on a daily basis after each feeding.
• Plaque removal should begin when the first tooth erupts.  Utilize the washcloth or gauze initially and gradually transition to a children’s soft toothbrush.
• Begin flossing when all of the baby teeth have erupted, usually by age 2-2½.
• Start and maintain regular dental visits dental visits by the child’s first birthday.

My Baby is Already in the Habit, What Now?

If a child has gotten used to having a sugary drink in their bottle, it is difficult to “break the habit”, but it can be done with a little patience and time.  Begin by gradually diluting the contents of the bottle with water.  This should be done over 2-3 weeks until the bottle is filled with water only.  During meals or waking periods, unsweetened juices, teas and water are always best for children to help promote oral and overall health.  For other ideas, parents may want to check one of our local bookstores for information that addresses sleep problems and how to get your baby to sleep without a bottle.  Start them off healthy and there is a good chance they will stay that way!