Most parents don’t know about baby bottle tooth decay till it’s too late.
Babies tend to have very healthy teeth, thanks to the fact that ALL they drink is breast milk. But though the milk helps to increase their immunity to disease, the truth is that babies can often suffer from tooth decay even at an early age. This tooth decay is known as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, as it usually sets in soon after babies make the transition from drinking breast milk to drinking from a bottle.
If you’re worried about the dental health of your infant, read on to find out everything you need to know about Baby Bottle Tooth Decay…
Causes of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
There are a lot of different things that can cause Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, with one of the primary culprits being sugar. When baby drinks juice and other sugary liquids, the bacteria living in baby’s mouth feeds and multiplies. Frequent, prolonged exposure to sugary drinks can cause this oral health problem.
But how does the bacteria get there?
- Mother licks baby’s spoon before feeding baby, passing the bacteria in her mouth to the little one.
- Baby touches dirty surfaces, clothing, or objects, and then sucks on his/her thumb.
- Mother, Father, or the siblings allow the baby to suck or bite on their fingers.
- The bottle or pacifier is not properly sterilized after use, allowing the bacteria to spread on the surface.
Once the bacteria enter baby’s mouth, it will make a home there and stay for the rest of the little one’s life. Every human mouth is filled with bacteria, and only proper oral hygiene helps to prevent tooth decay and infection. But baby doesn’t brush his/her own teeth, so the bacteria has an easier time multiplying out of control.
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The infection commonly sets in around the upper front teeth, though it can affect any of the teeth. The upper front teeth are most frequently exposed to foreign objects (bottle, thumb, pacifier, etc.), so that is where the bacteria tend to accumulate the most.
How to Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
The good thing about this oral health problem is that it’s fairly easy to prevent. Taking a few simple precautions will be enough to stop the bacteria in its tracks:
- Properly sterilizing baby’s bottles and pacifiers. Both the bottle and the pacifier spend a lot of time in baby’s mouth, so it’s vital that they are clean. Using the proper sterilization methods (such as boiling) helps to reduce the presence of bacteria.
- Avoid sharing saliva with the little one. That means you can’t lick baby’s spoon, suck on the little one’s thumb, or give kisses on the mouth. If the pacifier falls to the floor, licking away the dirt before putting it back into the little one’s mouth is NOT a valid cleaning option.
- Start brushing early. Baby may not enjoy it, but it’s important that you start brushing his/her teeth soon after they grow in.
- Clean the little one’s mouth. After you have fed the baby, wipe his/her gums with a washcloth or a damp gauze pad. This will help to remove bacteria, preventing the infection from setting in.
- Keep an eye on your child’s brushing habits. Toddlers often want to brush their own teeth, but you should monitor your child’s brushing habits until they are 6 or 7–old enough to do it right!
- Do not fill bottles with juice or sugary drinks. Keep the bottle ONLY for milk, formula, and breastmilk.
- NEVER dip the pacifier in honey. This trick is HORRIBLE for your child’s teeth!
