Avoiding Baby Bottle Decay

Oral health plays a crucial role for people of all ages—this includes babies! Baby teeth are more susceptible to cavities and decay, such as baby bottle decay. Here, we’ll go over ways to prevent this form of decay to ensure that your child starts on the right path towards a lifetime of great oral health!

Why Are Baby Teeth Important?

Even though baby teeth are temporary, they serve a crucial role in a child’s health and development. Baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, are necessary for children to start learning how to eat solids and develop their speech. Primary teeth also provide a guide for adult teeth as they erupt to the surface. These are just some of the many reasons why safeguarding your child’s primary teeth is vital and why it is recommended that they make their first visit to the dentist around their first birthday.

What Is Baby Bottle Decay?

Baby bottle decay is one of the most prevalent oral health issues children deal with. Luckily, it is completely avoidable! Baby bottle decay is an oral disease that occurs when children’s teeth are overexposed to high-sugar drinks. Specifically when they are exposed to a sugary drink for extended periods of time while drinking slowly from their bottles. Drinks that can cause decay include, but are not limited to:

• Formula
• Juices
• Sodas
• Sweetened Milk

How to Prevent Baby Bottle Decay

One of the best ways to prevent baby bottle decay is to NEVER put your child in bed with a bottle that contains a sugary drink. You wouldn’t drink a soda and then go straight to sleep without brushing your teeth! When you put a child to bed with a sweet drink, that sugar sits on their teeth overnight and can cause severe tooth decay. As soon as your child’s first tooth erupts, come visit us for pointers to help maintain your child’s developing smile. By having a go-to dental home, you and your child’s dentist can work hand-in-hand to ensure that their oral health is in tip-top shape. When you make regular visits, our dentists can catch potential problems before they worsen.

Pediatric Dentistry in Pleasanton, TX

Questions about baby bottle decay? Please feel free to reach out to our team at Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry and Braces. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your child’s smile!

Image by tung256 from Pixabay

Categorised in: Dental Tips, Healthy Diet, Oral Health, Preventive Dental Care

This post was written by Pleasanton Children’s Dentistry & Braces