How to Prevent Nursing bottle caries?

How to Prevent Nursing bottle caries?

Teeth in children are little yet mighty! Baby (deciduous) teeth serve important functions as your child learns to speak, chew, and bite, form good oral hygiene practises, and develops self-confidence, even though they only last for around ten years.

Your child needs healthy teeth that are sturdy enough to support them throughout childhood. Because their immune systems are still growing, babies are more vulnerable to bacteria, germs, and common childhood illnesses like tooth decay from baby bottles.

What is Nursing bottle caries?

Bottle decay, also known as nursing bottle teeth decay, is a dangerous condition that affects children and occurs when they regularly drink sugary liquids from feeding bottles for extended periods of time. Sugar exposure on a regular basis promotes the growth of bacteria in the mouth, which causes an infection of the teeth and gums.

Because most infants don't initially exhibit any symptoms, baby bottle tooth decay frequently advances undetected; yet, if ignored, this condition can harm your child's teeth permanently.

What are the causes for Nursing bottle caries?

• Giving your infant extended stretches of food.

• Infants dozing off while holding a bottle in their mouths.

• The infant contracted bacteria from the mother, father, or guardian. (A parent can give their child cavity-causing germs if they lick the baby's feeding spoon or clean the dummy with their tongue.)

• Children who drink sugary beverages before bed allow the acids to harm their teeth. 

How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?

Here are a few tips for preventing baby bottle tooth decay:

• Maintain your child's dental health in accordance with the advice of the American Academy of Paediatrics:

·       From birth to 12 months: Use a clean, soft washcloth to gently wipe your baby's gums. Once their first tooth erupts, gently wash their teeth using a very soft baby toothbrush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste that has been recommended by the ADA (about the size of a rice grain).

·       12 to 36 months: Brush your child's teeth twice a day for two minutes each using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste that has been authorised by the ADA. Brush twice a day, after breakfast and before bed, using a rice-sized amount of toothpaste.

• When filling baby bottles, only use formula, milk, or breast milk.

High-sugar beverages, such as juices, soft drinks, or sugar water, can quickly cause bacterial growth in the bottle and on your child's teeth.

• Prevent letting your kid sleep with a bottle in their mouth.

Don't let them use their baby bottle as a dummy unless it contains nothing but water. Your child's teeth could be left exposed to sugars and acids all night if you soothe them with a baby bottle.

• Come in for routine checkups! 

Our team in the Department of Pediatric dentistry are here to help guide you and your child. We offer kinder, gentler dentistry for kids and teens. We try our best to provide a nice, encouraging, and enjoyable environment for our small patients in order to help them form and maintain a favourable relationship with dental treatment.