Asking your pediatric dentist about baby bottle tooth decay can help you understand this dental issue better. Many babies have this condition. As a new parent, you should do what you can to prevent this from occurring in your baby’s teeth. If you want to know more about baby bottle tooth decay, here are the facts from a pediatric dentist.
Baby bottle tooth decay is dental decay in young children and infants. ECC (early childhood caries), infant caries, and bottle mouth are other names for this dental issue. Infant caries often occur on the baby’s incisors or front teeth. It results from the high amount of sugar in formula, milk, snacks, and sweet juice boxes. A pediatric dentist would recommend regular cleaning of the child’s teeth after every drink, snack, or meal.
Frequent contact of baby teeth with sugar results in baby bottle tooth decay. Bacteria are always in the mouth. These microorganisms thrive on sugar. The waste product of bacteria is acid. These acids attack the enamel. They eat away the tooth structure and cause tooth decay.
The baby or toddler may form the habit of having a bottle or sippy cup of milk in the mouth as a sleep aid. The baby teeth then soak in the milk. A pediatric dentist knows how easy it is for sugar to coat the teeth. This then leads to the quick decay of teeth in children.
Infant caries manifest through brown or dark-colored spots on the front teeth. Worsening ECC results in swelling around the affected teeth. The baby will also feel tooth pain. Crying during feeding time can tell parents how uncomfortable their child is.
Baby bottle tooth decay can become a serious dental health issue. Children need healthy teeth to smile, chew, and speak. Healthy baby teeth can reserve the dental spaces for permanent teeth. Worsening infection and pain will happen if the child loses a baby tooth too soon. These can also happen if the child does not receive treatment from a pediatric dentist.
The child’s permanent teeth may not develop the right way if baby teeth have ECC. The adult teeth may also become crooked. The child may also develop eating and speech problems. Dental pain may persist even as permanent teeth set in.
A pediatric dentist would not recommend letting the child sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. This will allow sugars to stay on the child’s teeth overnight. A bottle of water is healthier. Transitioning to a sippy cup by the child’s first birthday is also ideal. Avoiding long pacifier use as limiting sweets can help prevent infant caries as well. Cleaning the child’s gums after every meal or bottle with a warm, clean cloth removes plaque and food particles.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Pediatric Dentist in Reston, VA
Good dental care habits always start within the home. Preventing dental problems like ECC can give your child a healthy start in life. Bringing your baby to your pediatric dentist even before the baby teeth come out can maintain your baby’s oral health. As a parent, you have the power to make your child’s oral health optimal.
Request an appointment or call Precision Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry at 703-391-8800 for an appointment in our Reston office.
Calcium and vitamins have important pediatric dental benefits for your child. They help their bones grow and develop, as well as help with their tooth development. Besides brushing and flossing regularly, children also need to have balanced nutrition for healthy teeth and gums. This article covers the importance of calcium and vitamins, so parents can…
Dental X-rays are essential parts of a pediatric dental visit. As a diagnostic instrument, an X-ray is used by pediatric dentists to uncover and highlight problem areas in order to investigate them further and develop an effective treatment plan. Continue reading to know when the dentist might recommend digital X-rays during a dental appointment.Pediatric dentists…
Your pediatric dentist can help if your child loses a baby tooth at an unexpected time. This type of dental issue is common. Almost anything can knock out a baby tooth. Playing with a ball, falling from a bike, or even running in the yard can cause trauma to the child’s face. If you want…
A popular way to straighten teeth without traditional braces is Invisalign®. Clear aligners are available for both adults and teenagers who are interested in improving the alignment of their teeth and improving the appearance of their smiles. The aligners are not visible in the mouth and do not have metal components that can irritate sensitive…
If your teenager is in need of teeth straightening treatment, you may be wondering whether Invisalign® for teens is a viable option. There are pros and cons to everything in life, and Invisalign is no different. Here are four things to think about as you consider the appropriate choice for your child.Invisalign uses clear aligners…