Also known as early childhood caries, baby bottle tooth decay refers to tooth decay in infants and toddlers. Your child needs strong, healthy primary teeth to chew food properly and learn to speak, so preventing baby bottle tooth decay is very important.
Many risk factors influence children’s tooth decay. A common cause is the frequent and prolonged exposure of your child’s teeth to sugary drinks, including milk, formula, and fruit juice. Giving you little one a sugary drink at nap or night-time can be especially harmful, because the flow of saliva decreases during sleep. Bacteria in the mouth thrive on sugar and produce acids that attack the teeth.
Tooth decay can also be caused by bacteria passed from you to your baby through saliva by sharing spoons, testing foods before feeding them to an infant, and cleaning off a pacifier in your mouth instead of with water. These germs can start the process that causes cavities even before your baby’s primary teeth emerge, so it’s crucial to avoid sharing saliva with your little one from the start.
If your infant or toddler does not receive an adequate amount of fluoride internally through water, especially if he or she drinks bottled water, there can also be an increased risk for tooth decay. Our office may prescribe fluoride supplements to help prevent tooth decay.
Dr. Suarez Martinez specializes in dental care for children, young adults, and individuals with special needs. She truly believes that every child deserves personalized care and a warm, safe dental visit. Because she understands this important balance of positive dental experiences. As a mother herself, she truly cares for every child as if they were her own.
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The good news about baby bottle tooth decay is that it’s preventable!
Remember, healthy little smiles grow up to be healthy big smiles!
