Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
/Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to liquids containing sugars such as juice or milk. The sugary liquid pools around the infant’s teeth and gums all night, feeding bacteria that turns into plaque and acid causing tooth decay.
What does baby bottle decay look like?
In the first stage, you can see a chalky white color along the gumline of the teeth. At this stage, it may be reversible with good oral hygiene and use of fluoride toothpaste.
The next stage is the “damaged” or cavity stage. Those spots will turn a yellowish brown and breakdown of the tooth occurs. At this stage, teeth may be sensitive to cold.
As the cavity gets worse it may spread to the nerve and cause pain or infection. Teeth that are weakened by cavities can fracture easily with minor trauma.
We recommend to always brush your baby’s teeth before bed after dinner or milk. If your baby is given a bottle when going to sleep, avoid juice or milk. Water is recommended.
If you have any questions about baby bottle tooth decay or how to take care of your little one’s smile, give us a call at Smiles for Kids! We recommend their first dentist check-up by their first birthday!