Tooth decay can happen to people of all ages, including your infant. The growth and development of your child’s baby teeth are essential to the overall development of their face, jaw, and mouth, and should be monitored closely. The development of baby teeth can be greatly affected by how and when a baby is fed with a bottle. Baby bottle tooth decay can significantly impact the development of a child’s mouth.
What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay is what tooth decay in infants is often referred to. This can happen if your infant falls asleep while drinking sweetened liquids. When you sleep, your saliva flow is less than when you are awake. Saliva flow helps to clear the mouth of leftover food particles or the sugars in drinks. So, if your baby or toddler falls asleep while drinking a sweetened liquid (even milk), it’s more likely that the sugar will stick to their teeth and cause more damage than if they were drinking the same liquid while awake.
How do I prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
A good start to prevention is removing excess sugar from your child’s diet, especially in the form of liquids or on their pacifier. You can also give your child’s gums/teeth a gentle brushing after each meal, and teach them good dental habits as they grow older and can brush their teeth themselves. You really can’t begin too early! Be sure to maintain regular dental visits with Tiny Teeth of Dublin to be confident that your child is on track and decay isn’t creeping in.
Baby bottle tooth decay is completely preventable. Start your baby off on the right path by keeping track of the amount of sugar he/she consumes and teaching them proper dental habits as they grow.