It's often difficult to make sure that children look after their teeth, but it's important to remember that tooth decay can start as soon as your baby gets his or her first molars. Baby bottle tooth decay is a form of dental caries that affects a child's first teeth, and it's important that all parents take steps to make sure the condition doesn't affect your children. Find out about the causes and symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay, and learn more about the side effects and complications that can arise in children with the condition.
Causes of baby bottle tooth decay
Many parents believe that baby teeth are unimportant because adult teeth eventually take their place. In fact, baby teeth are just as important to your child's welfare, so it's vital that you don't ignore the causes and symptoms of decay.
Baby bottle tooth decay can affect any tooth, but your child's upper front teeth are more likely to experience this type of decay. The problem occurs when natural sugars cling to the surface of your child's teeth for long periods, allowing harmful bacteria to develop and multiply. Young children often drink milk, formula and fruit juice, all of which are high in the natural sugars that these bacteria thrive on.
Additionally, to help calm young children, parents sometimes dip a pacifier in sugar or syrup. This habit is particularly risky because the sugars stay in contact with the child's teeth for longer periods. Parents will often do this at bedtime, when the child's saliva flow decreases, further increasing the risk of baby bottle tooth decay.
Prevention tips for parents
Baby bottle tooth decay is relatively easy to prevent. By adopting good dental habits with your children, you can help avoid the issues that can lead to this type of decay.
- Wipe your child's gums with a clean cloth after each feed, to remove excess sugar.
- Stop licking feeding spoons or pacifiers before giving them to your child, as this can spread germs and saliva from your mouth.
- Supervise brushing until you are certain your child spits toothpaste out. Use only a smear of toothpaste up to the age of 3 and a pea-sized amount of paste between the ages of 3 and 6.
- Don't dip pacifiers in sugar or honey.
- Don't use feeding bottles to give your child sugar-water, juice or soft drinks.
- Try to get your son or daughter to switch to a cup by the time your child is one.
You can also start flossing as soon as the baby teeth come through. Take care when flossing your kids' teeth, to make sure you don't injure the gums. In certain cases, your dentist may recommend a sealant to cut the risk of tooth decay.
A study in 1997 found that baby bottle tooth decay is more likely in babies who experienced a traumatic birth. The researchers found that problems during pregnancy with conditions like viral infections, fetal distress and vaginal bleeding all led to an increased likelihood of tooth decay in children. As such, if you experienced these problems during pregnancy, you should pay particular attention to your children's dental health.
Why you need to eradicate baby bottle tooth decay
Untreated baby bottle tooth decay can have serious consequences for your son or daughter. Baby teeth help kids chew, speak and smile properly. Tooth decay can result in painful infections, which may hamper these basic functions. Serious decay can result in tooth extractions, which can then cause problems with the development of adult teeth.
A 2014 study also found that tooth decay in children can even inhibit growth. Researchers at the University College London looked at the relationship between dental health and growth in Saudi Arabian children aged 6 to 8. Children with more cavities were generally shorter and lighter than their peers.
Baby bottle tooth decay is a common, simple problem that can damage your child's health. Talk to your dentist for more advice about this condition, and make sure you do everything possible to avoid the problems that tooth decay can cause.
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