Baby bottle tooth decay, also known as early childhood cavities, is one of the most common dental issues among children below 5 years old. The signs and symptoms of this condition may greatly affect your baby’s feeding, speech, and more.
The treatment will depend on the severity of the case. Luckily, there are easy steps you can take to prevent it. Learn more here.
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/blog/baby-bottle-tooth-decay-causes-signs-and-prevention-tips/
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Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: Causes,
Signs, and Prevention Tips
B L O G | S U N R I S E D E N T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
Baby bottle tooth decay refers to presence of
cavities on baby teeth caused by prolonged
milk bottle use. If not treated properly, it can
cause teeth loosening.
You should know how important baby teeth
are for chewing and speech development;
they also affect the alignment of permanent
teeth.
A lack of attention to your baby’s teeth,
coupled with baby bottle decay may cause
poor oral health and even low self-esteem.
The good news is that your baby’s teeth can
be saved if the problem is detected early.
What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
As mentioned earlier, baby bottle tooth decay
is caused by prolonged bottle use and the
long-term exposure of your baby’s teeth to
sweet liquids, including formula milk and
fruit juices. Natural sugars from these drinks
tend to cling to your baby’s teeth and feed
bacteria in the mouth. They produce acids
that may damage their teeth.
White, brown, or black spots on teeth
surfaces
Tooth cavities or holes in the teeth
Toothache
How Do You Know If Your Baby Has Tooth
Decay?
While any teeth may be affected, baby bottle
tooth decay commonly occurs in the front
teeth.
Check for the following signs and symptoms:
Swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Fever due to tooth or gum infection
Bad breath
Treatment Options for Baby Bottle
Tooth Decay
Baby bottle tooth decay treatment may vary
depending on age and the severity of the
condition.
White spots on teeth surfaces are early signs
of baby bottle decay. During this stage, a
simple fluoride treatment can be enough to
re-mineralize and rebuild the tooth enamel.
Your baby’s dentist may also recommend
fluoride supplements.
Limit acid foods
Avoid fruit juices, especially citrus
Increase water intake
It is also wise to make changes to your baby’s
diet to keep the decay from progressing. You
should:
Be sure to coordinate these changes with your
baby’s pediatrician and dentist. Overall health
and nutritional needs are of the utmost
importance.
If decay is detected at later stages, you’ll see
brown or black spots in the teeth, or worse: tooth
loss. Fluoride treatments may no longer be
helpful at this level. You need to see a dentist for
extensive restoration.
If your baby’s tooth is extensively decayed, a
stainless-steel crown may be recommended.
After removing the decay, the dentist will fit
and cement a prefabricated crown over the
tooth. It will provide full protection of the
tooth, which is more effective than fillings.
Crowns are durable appliances that do not
require follow-up treatments.
If the damage has already reached the tooth
pulp, a pulp therapy is in order before placing
the crown. This is a common procedure, even
for young permanent teeth.
Always wipe your baby’s gums and teeth
with a wet clean cloth or gauze after every
bottle-feed. This will help remove excess
sugar on the teeth and prevent dental
plaque or cavities.
Can You Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
The best approach to baby bottle decay is
prevention! Luckily, you can do this in several
ways:
Brushing is highly recommended as
soon as your baby’s first tooth erupts.
This usually occurs around six months.
While there are tubes of toothpastes safe
for babies now, they are not required at
this age. Brushing with water is good
enough.
You may start using a pea-sized amount
of fluoride toothpaste when all of your
baby’s teeth have already erupted.
Expect this after their second birthday.
Children between the ages of two and
three may start flossing to make sure no
food particles are trapped in between
teeth.
Do not leave a bottle of sweetened drinks
in your baby’s mouth when they are
asleep.
Encourage your baby to drink from a cup
as early as six months old.
Start weaning your baby from the bottle at
a year old
Visit a dentist regularly for check-ups.
Schedule your first appointment after the
first birthday.
Make sure your child learns good oral
hygiene at an early age. Bad habits could
follow into adolescence and adulthood. If you
are looking for professionals who can take
good care of your baby’s dental needs, look
for an office that offers holistic dentistry in
Durango, CO like Sunrise Dentistry. Call us
at (970) 247-3303 now!
dale@durangolive.net
EMAIL ADDRESS
(970) 247-3303
PHONE NUMBER
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
CLICK BELOW TO VISIT SITE:
Contact
Details
Signs, and Prevention Tips
B L O G | S U N R I S E D E N T I S T R Y
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
Baby bottle tooth decay refers to presence of
cavities on baby teeth caused by prolonged
milk bottle use. If not treated properly, it can
cause teeth loosening.
You should know how important baby teeth
are for chewing and speech development;
they also affect the alignment of permanent
teeth.
A lack of attention to your baby’s teeth,
coupled with baby bottle decay may cause
poor oral health and even low self-esteem.
The good news is that your baby’s teeth can
be saved if the problem is detected early.
What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
As mentioned earlier, baby bottle tooth decay
is caused by prolonged bottle use and the
long-term exposure of your baby’s teeth to
sweet liquids, including formula milk and
fruit juices. Natural sugars from these drinks
tend to cling to your baby’s teeth and feed
bacteria in the mouth. They produce acids
that may damage their teeth.
White, brown, or black spots on teeth
surfaces
Tooth cavities or holes in the teeth
Toothache
How Do You Know If Your Baby Has Tooth
Decay?
While any teeth may be affected, baby bottle
tooth decay commonly occurs in the front
teeth.
Check for the following signs and symptoms:
Swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Fever due to tooth or gum infection
Bad breath
Treatment Options for Baby Bottle
Tooth Decay
Baby bottle tooth decay treatment may vary
depending on age and the severity of the
condition.
White spots on teeth surfaces are early signs
of baby bottle decay. During this stage, a
simple fluoride treatment can be enough to
re-mineralize and rebuild the tooth enamel.
Your baby’s dentist may also recommend
fluoride supplements.
Limit acid foods
Avoid fruit juices, especially citrus
Increase water intake
It is also wise to make changes to your baby’s
diet to keep the decay from progressing. You
should:
Be sure to coordinate these changes with your
baby’s pediatrician and dentist. Overall health
and nutritional needs are of the utmost
importance.
If decay is detected at later stages, you’ll see
brown or black spots in the teeth, or worse: tooth
loss. Fluoride treatments may no longer be
helpful at this level. You need to see a dentist for
extensive restoration.
If your baby’s tooth is extensively decayed, a
stainless-steel crown may be recommended.
After removing the decay, the dentist will fit
and cement a prefabricated crown over the
tooth. It will provide full protection of the
tooth, which is more effective than fillings.
Crowns are durable appliances that do not
require follow-up treatments.
If the damage has already reached the tooth
pulp, a pulp therapy is in order before placing
the crown. This is a common procedure, even
for young permanent teeth.
Always wipe your baby’s gums and teeth
with a wet clean cloth or gauze after every
bottle-feed. This will help remove excess
sugar on the teeth and prevent dental
plaque or cavities.
Can You Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
The best approach to baby bottle decay is
prevention! Luckily, you can do this in several
ways:
Brushing is highly recommended as
soon as your baby’s first tooth erupts.
This usually occurs around six months.
While there are tubes of toothpastes safe
for babies now, they are not required at
this age. Brushing with water is good
enough.
You may start using a pea-sized amount
of fluoride toothpaste when all of your
baby’s teeth have already erupted.
Expect this after their second birthday.
Children between the ages of two and
three may start flossing to make sure no
food particles are trapped in between
teeth.
Do not leave a bottle of sweetened drinks
in your baby’s mouth when they are
asleep.
Encourage your baby to drink from a cup
as early as six months old.
Start weaning your baby from the bottle at
a year old
Visit a dentist regularly for check-ups.
Schedule your first appointment after the
first birthday.
Make sure your child learns good oral
hygiene at an early age. Bad habits could
follow into adolescence and adulthood. If you
are looking for professionals who can take
good care of your baby’s dental needs, look
for an office that offers holistic dentistry in
Durango, CO like Sunrise Dentistry. Call us
at (970) 247-3303 now!
dale@durangolive.net
EMAIL ADDRESS
(970) 247-3303
PHONE NUMBER
https://sunrise-dentistry.com/
CLICK BELOW TO VISIT SITE:
Contact
Details