Baby bottle tooth decay can cause your child to have painful toothaches which can hinder eating. Decayed teeth may need to be extracted. If your child’s teeth are infected or lost too early, your child could develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth, and damaged or discolored adult (permanent) teeth.
How can you prevent baby bottle tooth decay?
- Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle containing a sweetened liquid.
- After each feeding, wipe the child’s teeth and gums with a damp washcloth or small soft toothbrush to remove plaque.
- Begin brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts.
- If your water supply does not contain enough decay-fighting fluoride, check with your dentist to see if your child should receive fluoride supplements.
If your child refuses to fall asleep without a bottle, simply fill the bottle with water and nothing else. And, don’t forget to start your child’s l visits between six and twelve months of age.
Taking consistent care of your child’s teeth can prevent baby bottle tooth decay, and reward your child with good l health.
Dr. Maksim has been practicing dentistry in the San Diego area for over 20 years.
www.michaelmaksimdds.com