Baby bottle tooth decay is an oral health disorder commonly found in children who often drink from bottles for extended periods of time. The reason the bottles can cause damage to a child’s smile lies in the liquids being used in the bottles and the amount of time they are in contact with the child’s mouth. The following is a list of basics of baby bottle tooth decay:
– Avoid sharing utensils, toys, pacifiers, bottles, or cleanings tools like toothbrushes between you and your child, as this can increase the risk of bacterial contamination being exchanged with your child.
– Do not cover the tops of baby bottles with sugary sweets like honey.
– Baby bottle tooth decay is often triggered by the liquids used in baby bottles, such as sports drinks, sugar water, honey-infused liquids, sugary juices, and soft drinks.
– Never let your child go to bed with a bottle in their mouth.
– A child’s first tooth begins to appear when they are around 6 months of age, and at this time, the tooth is at risk of baby bottle tooth decay, so it must be cared for daily.
– Be careful to never use too much toothpaste when cleaning your infant’s mouth, so for children under 3, use an amount of toothpaste the size of a rice grain.
To schedule an appointment at our pediatric office in Sugar Land, Texas, call C & C Dental at 281-201-4332 and a member of our team will gladly assist your child. Dr. Teresa Cody and our entire team look forward to helping your child achieve the successful smile they need.