Baby Bottles: Are They Putting Your Baby’s Smile at Risk?

Many parents see no problem with giving their baby a bottle at naptime or when putting them to bed. The warm milk helps little ones fall asleep, but this common practice may not be as harmless as it appears. Baby bottle tooth decay is a potential problem that can affect your child’s growing smile, so if you want to avoid cavities and other similar issues, learn more about it and what you can do to keep their tiny teeth healthy.
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What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?Baby bottle tooth decay, also called early childhood cavities, can affect infants and toddlers’ growing smiles. When consuming sugary milk, formula, or other liquids, the remnants can accumulate on their erupted primary teeth, allowing bacteria to break down the tooth enamel. The longer their teeth are exposed to the sugary substance, the greater the risk of cavities.

Liquids such as breastmilk, formula, and juice are common culprits. Since these beverages are provided throughout the day or when putting them down for a nap, the sugar content stays on their enamel, causing harmful acids to build up and target the outer layer of their teeth.

How Can You Help Your Baby Avoid It?
One thing many parents express is that these teeth will fall out anyway, so why should baby bottle tooth decay be a big deal? The truth is that keeping them cavity-free until they fall out on their own paves the way for healthy permanent tooth eruption.

Although your little one may prefer a bottle before naptime, there are other things to consider (and try) to reduce the risk of dental decay. You can:

• Give your baby plain water in a bottle if they need comfort. You can also offer a pacifier, but be careful not to let it become a normal habit, as it can lead to other dental issues.
• Carefully clean your baby’s gums and primary teeth each day to remove any bacteria.
• Bring your child into the dentist’s office for their first visit before they reach the age of one.
• Once your child is old enough, make the switch from a bottle to a cup.
• Instead of sugary snacks, give your child healthier options, such as fruits and vegetables, cheese, yogurt, etc., to encourage strong teeth.
• Apply fluoride toothpaste when brushing their teeth to give their smile additional protection against decay.

You want your child’s smile to have a healthy start, so take the steps now to protect their teeth from dental decay.

About the Author

Dr. Adrienne Archidiacono-Jeanis is a board-certified pediatric dentist who provides child-friendly services in our Aledo dental office. Working with little ones, including infants, she provides parents with important information about how to prevent cavities from forming in their child’s growing smile. Since baby bottle tooth decay is a real concern, she shares ways to reduce the risk while keeping babies happy, healthy, and satisfied. Visit our website or call (817) 383-2576 if you would like to discuss your baby’s oral health.

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