What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay and How to Prevent It {Guest Post}

Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post.  All photographs and text were provided by the guest poster.

Though they are momentary, baby teeth need to be taken good care of, for they can easily decay, fall out and cause adult teeth to come inappropriately. So, it’s your duty as a parent to help your kid have healthy baby teeth. Read on to know more about baby bottle tooth decay and how it can be prevented!

Kids have their first teeth around the age of three and these are known as baby teeth. On an average, primary teeth are 20 in number and begin to fall out one by one by the time kids are 5 or 6.

Though the most common reason for baby teeth to fall out is permanent teeth pushing from behind while making place for them, another reason can be decay! Yes, like mature teeth, baby teeth too are prone to cavities that can further cause the entire sets of teeth to decay and fall out. So, enough oral care right from the beginning is important in order to ensure that baby teeth stay healthy and adult teeth come in properly.

What’s Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby teeth have their own importance even as they are temporary. Your kids need them for a variety of purposes including learning to speak, chewing food and, of course, giving a fascinating smile!

These teeth, however, are highly susceptible to cavities and decay, especially when not taken proper care of. Usually, decay starts with the upper front set of teeth, but reaches other teeth quickly and affects them too.

What Causes and Accelerates Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Though Baby Bottle Teeth can result from a variety reasons, the most common cause is excessive exposure of to sugar-loaded milk, drinks and other eatables. Most often, parents put their babies to bed with bottles of milk or use milk bottles as a toy to pacify them, making their baby teeth develop cavities at a quicker pace.

Basically, the condition sets in when cavity-causing bacteria pass from the mother or caretaker to the baby. Since most mothers are habitual of putting the infant’s feeding spoon into their mouth, saliva becomes a major source of bacteria transmission.

How to Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby tooth decay in kids is a common problem and is preventable. Aware parents make it a point to talk to a dentist when their kids’ first teeth begin to appear. Since starting timely is the key to perfect dental health, following are some preventive measures you can take to help your kids:

• Makes sure you don’t use or lick your baby’s feeding spoon and exchange saliva.
• Develop a habit of cleaning your kid’ gums using a clean washcloth after feeding.
• With your kid’s baby teeth coming in, make it a routine to brush them with a soft, baby-size toothbrush.
• Use lukewarm water and limited amount of any quality toothpaste, and make sure your kid doesn’t swallow the toothpaste.
• Make sure your baby finishes bedtime milk bottle before sleeping. If your baby uses a pacifier, avoid dipping it honey or sugar and keep it clean.
• Train your baby to drop bottle and drink from a proper cup by the first birthday. It is equally important to encourage healthy eating habit in kids to ensure dental health

Author Bio: Clara Carol is practicing dentist in Brooklyn, New York. She loves to write when finds time she has written various articles pertaining to dental hygiene and overall health for various online health blogs and e-magazines. This time, she takes one of the most sensitive issues related to kids – baby bottle tooth decay, making parents aware of their kids’ dental health.