Bottle Feeding & Child Dental Care

Although baby teeth will ultimately fall out, they perform many functions in your child’s mouth. Baby teeth assist your youngster in eating, communicating, and, of course, smiling. Another significant role of baby teeth is that they act as placeholders for adult teeth later in life. If an infant’s teeth are not adequately cared for, dental infections may develop, causing discomfort, suffering, and sickness and leading to extractions and orthodontic issues. Furthermore, if your kid has infected baby teeth, they may develop bad feeding habits, speech difficulties, and damaged adult teeth.

Although the first grown teeth are only temporary, but infant teeth are vital and vulnerable. to deterioration. “Early childhood caries, often known as baby bottle teeth decay”, is a phrase used to define tooth decay in babies and toddlers. Children’s teeth must be strong and healthy to chew food, speak, and smile appropriately. Their primary teeth also contribute to the appropriate eruption of their adult teeth. It is essential to begin proper oral hygiene habits with babies to protect their teeth for many years to come.

Tooth Deterioration Due To Feeding Via Bottle

Bottle-feeding during sleep is a significant cause of tooth decay in newborns. When sweetened beverages, particularly those containing natural sugars, are consumed (juice, milk, formula), are depleted during sleep, bacteria in the mouth are allowed to create acid, resulting in tooth decay. Although newborns bottle feeds with their front teeth most of the time, all teeth might be impacted due to pH imbalances and decreased saliva production during sleep.

How Can I Protect My Baby’s Teeth?

Fortunately, there are a few basic actions you may take to prevent bottle-feeding teeth disease.

  • Remove your infant from the bottle after they have done eating.
  • Never leave a baby unattended to feed on a bottle.
  • Additionally, massage or wipe any gum regions that do not yet have teeth.
  • Make regular dental appointments for your kid by the time they turn one. Dentists also provide specific sealant coatings, oral hygiene, and fluoride instructions to assist youngsters in avoiding tooth decay.

What Causes Tooth Decay in Baby Bottles?

The top front teeth are most often affected by Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, although other teeth may be affected as well. A variety of circumstances may cause tooth decay. One typical reason is the baby’s teeth being exposed to sugary beverages regularly and sustainably. Tooth decay can occur when a bottle is used as a pacifier for a stirring newborn or when the baby is placed on the bed with the bottle.

Cavity-causing germs may be transferred to the infant from the mother (or primary carer), causing tooth decay. These germs are carried into the saliva of the mother when she puts the baby’s nourishing spoon in her mouth or scrubs a offering in her mouth, bacteria might be trasnferred to the newborn. If your baby or toddler isn’t geting enough fluoride, they are more likely to develop tooth decay. The good news is that degradation can be avoided.

Keeping Baby Bottle Tooth Decay at Bay

When your child’s first tooth shows, make an appointment with your dentist to schedule the first dental visit. Consider the first dental appointment to be similar to a well-baby exam with the Kids Dentist Indianapolis IN. Remember, the key to a lifetime of excellent oral health is to begin early. Visit the Children Dental Indianapolis IN, for additional information on nutrition and your infant.

Bottele Feeding precauitons

Bottle feeding should only be done during mealtimes. If you want to put your infant to sleep, never use a bottle. Bacteria thrive on sugars, which are bathed in milk or juice that collects in the mouth. Wipe your baby’s gums twice a day with a cleaned, gentle, light cloth, such as with a handkerchief, to get them used to routine dental hygiene before their teeth come in.

Once your baby’s teeth erupt, switch to a baby toothbrush wet in water. Before using toothpaste on your child, wait until he or she is old enough to spit it out. Swallowing toothpaste while their teeth are forming can cause fluorosis, a condition caused by excessive fluoride absorption that results in mottled or gritty teeth. You should have weaned your child off the bottle by the time he or she is a year old. Introduce a sippy cup, which is a spill-proof cup with a valve.

When and Why Should You Stop Using the Baby Bottle?

Bottle usage may cause cavities and other health problems in youngsters. Our Children’s Dentist Indianapolis IN suggests that children stop using baby bottles by the age of 12 months, and here’s why. Even though it seems to be innocuous, prolonged bottle-feeding causes dental health hazards for children.

If your kid is feeding on a bottle all day, their teeth are in constant touch with milk or juice, which may lead to tooth rot and cavities. Giving a baby a nighttime bottle is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. Sugars found naturally in milk and juice pool around your child’s teeth and gums, feeding plaque-causing bacteria.

The way your kid sucks on bottles impacts the development of their muscles, mouth, and palate. Long-term infant bottle usage might harm not only your child’s teeth but also create misalignment problems.

Preventing Early Decay

It is critical to transition your kid from a bottle to a standard cup as soon as possible to prevent early tooth decay. Whether your kid still takes a bottle, teaching them to take care of their teeth can prepare the road for healthy adult teeth.

Clean your baby’s gums after each meal, even if you don’t see any teeth. Begin brushing with a soft bristles toothbrush and child-safe toothpaste as soon as the appearance of your child’s first teeth. Then, when your child’s teeth are adjacent to each other, you should start flossing.

If you believe your kid is showing indications of early tooth decay, please get in touch with Pediatric Dentistry Indianapolis IN to make an appointment right away.