Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as baby bottle tooth  decay. It occurs when sweetened liquids  with natural sugars  like formula , fruit juice and milk clinge  to an infant’s teeth for a long time.  Bacteria in the mouth thrive on this sugar and makes acid that attack the teeth.

Who is at risk ?

Children at risk for this condition are those  :

• whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in sugar or syrup
• who are given  sugary drink at nap time or nighttime . This is particularly  harmful because saliva flow is decreased during sleep

Although this condition usually happens in the upper front teeth, the other teeth may be affected .

You have to know that  baby teeth are very important even though temporary.  These teeth are used  for chewing, speaking and smiling.  They also serve as placeholders  for the adult teeth. If this condition is  not treated, it  can result in pain and infection. Severely decayed teeth may need to be removed.

If teeth are infected or decayed at an early age, it can cause your child to develop poor feeding habit, speech problems, crooked teeth and damaged adult teeth. There is also an increased risk of your baby teeth being crooked and greatly increased. However there are ways to save your baby’s  teeth from this condition.

Ways to prevent baby bottle tooth decay.

• wipe your baby’s gum with a clean gauze pad and wash cloth after each feeding
• when your baby’s teeth first come in, brush them gently with a child-size toothbrush and a smear (or grain of rice sized amount) of fluoride toothpaste until the age of 3.
• clean and massage gum in areas without teeth
• start flossing your child’s teeth once all the baby teeth come in
• make sure your child is getting enough fluoride . This will help lessen cavities.  If your local water  supply doesnot contain fluoride, ask your dentist or doctor if you need a fluoride supplement
• encourage  your child to drink from a cup by his/her first birthday
• schedule your child’s  first dental appointment before her first birthday. They offer special sealant coatings that help prevent tooth decay

You can also prevent  baby bottle decay by doing the following :

• dont fill bottles with sugar  or soft drinks . Soft drinks are not recommended  for children because they have no nutritional values. Bottles are for formula, milk, water and  electrolyte-containing solutions when the child has diarrhea.
• never allow the child to fall asleep with a bottle containing anything but water
• do not give your child a pacifier dipped in anything sweet
• reduce the sugar in your child’s diet especially between meals

If your child drinks sweetened liquids from the bottle, you can break the habit to reduce your risk  of baby bottle tooth decay by :

• gradually diluting the bottle contents with water over 2 to 3 weeks . Once the period is over, fill the bottle with water