Is Bottle-Feeding Harmful To Your Child’s Oral Health? Know How Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Occurs
A baby bottle itself is not harmful for your baby’s teeth. But the fluid that you put in it can certainly lead to decaying of your baby’s teeth resulting in dental cavities. This condition is described as baby bottle tooth decay.
Baby bottle tooth decay may occur in your baby when you feed him or her milk, formula or other juicy fluid with bottle particularly at bedtime.
The beverage that is fed to your child stays put in his or her teeth for some more time causing bacterial erosion in the mouth.
Every time you bottle-feed your child, his or her teeth are attacked by the acids which are generated by the bacteria. The repeated attacks lead to tooth decay in your baby.
If the decayed teeth of your baby are not treated on time, they can become inflamed and severely painful. The untreated baby bottle tooth decay may also cause severe dental infection and finally result in tooth loss.
Prolonged or repeated bottle-feeding with beverages containing sugar may also cause baby bottle tooth decay in your child.
Your child may develop tooth decay also by eating snacks containing sugar.
How to prevent baby bottle tooth decay
Regular cleaning of your child’s teeth is necessary to protect his teeth from decay and ensure good oral health. Use water and a soft brush for cleaning up your child’s teeth immediately after every feeding. Use a gauze pad for wiping gums where teeth have not come up.
Do not leave your child on bed with his or her mouth sucking milk, formula, juice or other sugary liquid from bottle.
Use a clean pacifier between feedings or at night if your child needs comfort. Ask your child’s doctor or dentist to recommend a safe and appropriate pacifier.
Give beverages containing sugar to your child only at mealtime. Avoid feeding juice or other sugary fluid between meals.
Instead of giving snacks containing sugar such as candy or cookies you must give your child fresh fruits. You can also give your child vegetables to protect his or her oral health.
Allow your child to drink tap water especially after meals or snacks so as to wash his or her mouth and teeth and prevent tooth decay.
It would be better if you give your child the water that contains fluoride which prevents tooth decay.
Moreover regularly take your child to a dentist for oral and dental check up. The dentist can give you necessary directions on how to protect oral health of your child.
