Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

What is baby bottle tooth decay? Simply put, it’s the problems that result from pacifying and putting a baby to sleep with a bottle of milk. Of course milk does help the child go to sleep, but while they sleep, the milk, juice or other sweetened liquid pools in their mouth. In just a year or two, that bottle habit can cause severe tooth decay. A child suffering from baby bottle tooth decay often has visible, large cavities. In advanced cases, some teeth can be completely destroyed, leaving behind browning stumps.

Avoiding baby bottle tooth decay is simple. Pediatric dentists urge parents to never put a child to sleep with a bottle of milk (formula or breast milk) or any sweetened drinks. A pacifier or bottle of water should be the only option if the child is fussing.

Is breastfeeding okay? Of course, breastfeeding is a wonderful way to bond with a child. However, even a mother’s breast milk can pool in a child’s mouth if they fall asleep while feeding. Simply take precautions to avoid putting them to sleep too near a meal.

Talk with Dr. Bill about baby bottle tooth decay. He’ll have all the answers. And he can show you how to start brushing your child’s teeth the day they start to pop through their gums to further reduce the possibility of tooth decay. Call Dr. Bill at 541-672-5535.