Great oral care starts at an early age. Even before a child’s teeth emerge, certain factors can affect their future appearance and health. Unlike adults, infants have special oral health needs that all parents should be mindful of. These include protecting against baby bottle tooth decay, also known as early childhood caries or nursing bottle caries.

Baby bottle decay is caused by repeated exposure to sugary drinks such as milk, formula and fruit juice. These liquids pool around the teeth as the child sleeps, leading to cavities in the upper and lower front teeth. To avoid decay, it’s important to make sure your baby doesn’t fall asleep with a bottle of milk or juice in its mouth. 

Signs Of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

You can find symptoms of decay most often in the upper front teeth. But since baby teeth are small, you might not be able to see the signs without proper equipment. For this reason, we recommend you bring your child to see a dentist when their first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday. To learn more about when you should bring your child in for their first dental appointment, check out this Ask A Dentist blog.

When decay begins to affect your child’s teeth, it can lead to:

• Pain and discomfort in the mouth
• Costly dental treatment down the road
• Damage to permanent teeth or loss of the space needed for them to grow in
• Infections leading to other oral health issues

But it’s possible to prevent early childhood caries altogether. 

How Can I Prevent It?

Proper oral hygiene and bottle-feeding habits help keep your child’s teeth strong and healthy until their permanent teeth come in. 

To prevent early childhood caries:

• Wipe your child’s gum clean with a damp gauze pad after feeding.
• Avoid sharing saliva with your child through spoons or pacifiers as babies can catch caries from their parents.
• When your child’s teeth erupt, brush them gently with a child-sized toothbrush and a tiny amount of toothpaste.
• Only feed them formula, breast milk or milk. Avoid sugary drinks and fruit juice.
• Ensure their pacifiers are clean and aren’t coated in sugar or honey.

At Dental Image Therapy Centres, we provide kid-friendly dental care to ensure your child enjoys a lifetime of healthy smiles. 

Is your child showing signs of baby bottle tooth decay? Or maybe you’re looking for a dental office where your child’s oral health is top priority? Schedule their first dental visit with us today. We’ll make sure to examine their teeth and catch any issues before they arise. You can find us at St. Vital Centre and Garden City Shopping Centre.