Baby Teeth Formation
Your baby’s healthy start should include proper dental care. Just because you can’t see those little teeth yet doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Teeth start forming before birth1 and the first baby tooth emerges in three to 12 months. By three years of age, most children have all 20 primary teeth.
What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay (also known as baby bottle tooth) is a condition that occurs when sweet liquids are allowed to have frequent contact with your baby’s teeth. A common cause of this ailment is putting your baby to bed with a bottle of formula, milk, juice, soda, or sugar water. This can also be caused by giving your child several sweet drinks throughout the day. According to the Canadian Dental Association, “Once your child has teeth, he is susceptible to tooth decay. Mother’s milk, formula, cow’s milk and fruit juice all contain sugar.”2,3 Treatment of baby bottle tooth decay varies greatly depending on the progression of the decay. It is best to contact your pediatric dentist as soon as possible to evaluate your child’s risk.
How Can You Help to Prevent Baby Bottle
Tooth Decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay is a very serious condition; however, there are several ways in which you can prevent the disease from taking place. Prevention methods for babies range from teaching your child to drink from a cup at an early age, cleaning his/her mouth after feedings, brushing at the first sign of teeth, and using a clean pacifier as opposed to a bottle to calm your baby between feedings.
Prevention of baby bottle tooth decay does not stop with toddlers. You should brush your child’s teeth twice a day and make sure that your child receives enough fluoride. If your local municipal water does not contain fluoride, contact your dentist to ask how your child can get it.
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