Baby Bottles Could Cause Tooth Decay!

Your baby’s teeth can decay from going to bed with a baby bottle or poor oral hygiene. He or she needs strong, healthy teeth. Because they help your child chew food, speak, and have enough space in his or her jaw for the adult teeth to grow in straight. Causes of tooth decay among children include.

Too much sugar

When your child’s teeth come in contact with too much sugar. This sugar helps bacteria grow. Acids that the bacteria make cause the teeth to decay.

Many of the liquids that your child drinks contain sugar, including milk, formula, and fruit juices. Eating snacks with sugar also places more sugar on your child’s teeth.

How often your child drinks liquids containing sugar, and how long the sugar stays in the mouth are also important. When children sleep or walk around with a bottle or sippy cup in their mouth, sugar coats their teeth for longer periods of time, causing teeth to decay more quickly.

Breast milk by itself is the healthiest food for babies’ teeth. It tends to slow bacterial growth and acid production. However, when breast milk is alternated with sugary foods or drinks, the rate of tooth decay can be faster than with sugar alone.

Feeding tips to curb tooth decay

Clean pacifier

Avoid prolonged use of pacifiers and make sure they are clean (with soap and water) and never dip them in honey or other sweeteners.

Use a cup

Begin teaching your child to drink from a cup at around 6 months of age. Between 6-12months, he or she should use a bottle for formula. Try to stop using a bottle by age 12 – 14 months.

Less sugar

Do NOT fill your child’s bottle with fluids that are high in sugar, such as soda.

Water only

Put your child to bed with a bottle of water only- not juice, milk, or other drinks.

And in bed…

Remove the bottle or stop nursing when your child has fallen asleep.Limit juice in-take per day during meals.

Caring for baby teeth

*Begin tooth brushing as soon as your child has teeth. If you have an infant or toddler, place a small amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste on a washcloth and rub gently on their teeth.

You can switch to fluoridated toothpaste when you are sure that they can spit out all of the toothpaste after brushing. Older children can use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Use pea-size amount of toothpaste.

* After each feeding, gently wipe your child’s teeth and gums with a clean washcloth or gauze to remove plaque.

* Begin flossing children’s teeth when all of the baby teeth have erupted usually around age 2 1/2.

* If your baby is 6 months or older, use fluoridated water or a fluoride supplement if you have well water without fluoride.

* Limit sweet treats and introduce the baby to a sippy cup by the first birthday.

* Inspect your child’s teeth regularly and begin dental visits when all of the baby teeth have erupted or at age 2 or 3.

Posted by Admin on July 23, 2011. Filed under HEALTH. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.