Baby care

  

What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay occurs in infants and very young children, when liquids whether it is sweetened or with natural sugars such as milk and fruit juice stick to their teeth for a long time which makes bacteria to thrive in the mouth and produce acids that is harmful for the teeth of infants.

Experts suggest that it should be avoided to give an infant a sugary drink right before sleeping as it is harmful because the flow of saliva decreases while sleeping.

What causes baby bottle tooth decay?

Bottle tooth decay happens when baby teeth are frequently affected by too much sugar. Sugar stuck in teeth becomes the reason for bacteria to thrive and produce acid which attacks the teeth and tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. The sugar is found in milk, infant formula, juice, snacks, etc.

How do you prevent baby bottle tooth decay?

By implementing good oral hygiene in infants and young children, the tooth decay can be staved off. While feeding a baby, there are a few simple steps that can help to prevent the baby bottle tooth decay from occurring:

1. After each feeding, smoothly wipe the gums of the baby with a clean gauze pad or washcloth.
2. you can start brushing the baby's teeth, without using a toothpaste, when his or her first tooth comes in.
3. Also you can clean and massage baby's gums and the areas without teeth.
4. Bottles being used to feed baby shouldn't be filled with sugar water and soft drinks. Bottles are meant for milk, water, formula.
5. Keep the children away from soft drinks as they lack or have no nutritional value.
6. Generously do not let the child fall asleep with a bottle in his or her mouth containing anything except water.