Your Questions

• What is a pediatric dentist?
• When should my child see a dentist for the first time?
• What will happen at my child’s first dental visit?
• Why should decayed baby teeth be fixed?
• Why does my child need X-rays?
• How should I care for my child’s teeth?
• Does my child’s diet affect their teeth?
• What are sealants?
• What is Baby Bottle Decay?
• When will my baby start getting teeth?
• My child has a dental emergency. What should I do?
• How safe is fluoride?

What is Baby Bottle Decay?

A serious form of decay among young children is baby bottle decay also known as Early Childhood Caries. This condition is caused by frequent and long exposure of an infant’s teeth to liquids that contain sugar. Among these liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.

Putting a baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay. Sweet liquid pools around the child’s teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, make sure it contains only water. At-will nighttime breast-feeding should be avoided after the first primary teeth begin to erupt and drinking juice from a bottle should be avoided. Encourage your child to drink from a cup as they approach their first birthday and when juice is offered, it should be in a cup and diluted with water.

After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down, place the child’s head in you lap or lay the child on a dressing table or the floor. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the child’s mouth easily.