Tips for Treating Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

If your child is suffering from baby bottle tooth decay, it means they are suffering from dental erosion on their precious teeth. Baby bottle tooth decay is most often the result of sugary liquids used in baby bottles, which can damage a child’s teeth and gums. Here are some tips for treating baby bottle tooth decay:

• Never let your child fall asleep with a bottle in their bed or mouth.
• Avoid sharing utensils, toys, pacifiers, bottles, or cleanings tools like toothbrushes between you and your child, as this can increase the risk of bacterial contamination being transferred to your child.
• Be careful to never use too much toothpaste when cleaning your infant’s mouth, so for children under 3, use a blob of toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
• Baby bottle tooth decay is often instigated by the liquids used in baby bottles, such as sports drinks, sugar water, honey-infused liquids, sugary juices, and soft drinks.
• A child’s first tooth begins to appear when they are around 6 months of age, and at this time, the tooth is vulnerable to baby bottle tooth decay, so it must be cared for daily.
• Do not cover or coat the tops of baby bottles with honey or any other sugars and sweets.

Make sure to take good care of your child’s teeth, so that they can last a lifetime. For more information about baby bottle tooth decay, or to schedule an oral exam with Dr. John Cloud and our team at Cloud Family Dental, give us a call at 501-868-3800. Our pediatric office is conveniently located in Little Rock, Arkansas. We look forward to hearing from you soon!