Baby Bottle Decay
Decay’s in very young children and infants is often known as baby bottle decay. This happens when liquids that are sweet cling to an infant’s teeth for a long time. Kids whose pacifiers that are frequently dipped in syrup and sugar during their nap time or night time are harmful because the flow of saliva decreases during their sleep.
Baby bottle decay usually affects the front teeth but other teeth may also be affected. If it is left untreated then it will affect their adult teeth as they come through as well as server pain and infections. If these teeth get infected it can cause the child to have speech problems, crooked or damaged adult teeth.
While this is all bad news, the good news is that it is quite simple to avoid getting babby bottle decay by applying good oral hygiene at a young age. These are some easy steps in order to prevent baby bottle decay:
- Schedule regular dental visits
- When the first few teeth come in, gently brush without using toothpaste or use fluoride free toothpaste
- Wipe your baby’s gums with a washcloth or clean gauze pad after each feeding
- Clean and massage gum in areas without teeth.
- Avoid filling the bottles with sugary water and soft drinks and juices.
- Never allow you child to fall asleep with a bottle containing anything but water
- Reduce sugar in your child’s diet and never give you child a pacifier dipped with anything sweet.
If you follow these steps your child could have healthy adult teeth. For more information talk to your dentist.
References : WebMd
