Q&A: Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Q: What is baby bottle tooth decay?
A: Baby bottle tooth decay, also known as early childhood caries, or baby bottle caries, is a dental condition in which there is significant decay in a child’s teeth. It often occurs when a young child naps or goes to bed at night with a bottle filled with a sugary liquid, such as milk or juice.1 When bacteria on the teeth come into contact with sugar from the liquids, the bacteria form acids that attack teeth enamel. This causes tooth decay.2
Q: What are the symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay?
A: Decay is commonly found in the upper front teeth.2 While each child may experience symptoms differently, symptoms may include white spots or brown areas on the teeth.3
Q: How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?
A: Here are some suggestions to keep your child’s teeth healthy:
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Do not allow your child to go to bed with a bottle filled with anything but water.4
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Wean your child from the bottle between 12 and 14 months of age.5
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Follow the appropriate oral health routine for your child’s age. Wipe your baby’s gums after each feeding. When your child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to begin brushing. Clean and massage gums in areas that remain toothless, and begin flossing when all the baby teeth have erupted, usually by age 2 or 2-1/2.1
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If you live in an area without fluoridated water, talk with your child’s dentist about fluoride supplementation.6
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Take your child to the dentist within six months of the eruption of his first tooth and no later than your child’s first birthday.7
1 “What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?” Academy of General Dentistry, January 2007. www.agd.org/public/oralhealth/Default.asp?IssID=295&Topic=C&ArtID=1157#ada.org/cgi/content/full/137/1/127 Accessed 2010.
2 “Statement on Early Childhood Caries” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/2057.aspx Accessed 2010.
3 “Dental Hygiene: How to Care for Your Child’s Teeth.” American Academy of Family Physicians, June 2007. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/kidshealthy/healthy-choice/227.printerview.html Accessed 2010.
4 “A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby.” National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, July 25, 2008. www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/ToothDecay/AHealthyMouthforYourBaby.htm Accessed 2010.
5 “Dental Care for Your Baby.” American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002061.htm Accessed 2010.
6 “Medical Encyclopedia: Early Childhood Caries.” U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, April 10, 2008. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002061.htm Accessed 2010.
7 “Baby Teeth.” American Dental Association. www.ada.org/3084.aspx?currentTab=1 Accessed 2010.