Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Alternate Names : BBTD, Baby Bottle Caries, Baby Bottle Mouth
What can be done to prevent the condition?
There are many ways to prevent baby bottle tooth decay.
Never put a child to bed with a bottle of milk, formula, fruit juice, or sweetened liquid. If a child needs a bottle in bed,
only water should be put in the bottle.
Don't allow a child to walk around with a bottle in his or her mouth. The longer sweetened liquids sit in the mouth,
the more likely baby bottle tooth decay is.
Teach a child to drink from a cup as soon as possible. A cup can be given to a baby at age 6 to 12 months. Drinking
from a cup avoids liquids pooling around the teeth and gums.
Wipe a baby's gums with a washcloth after each feeding. Once baby teeth have erupted, brush the teeth and gums
with a soft, child-sized toothbrush. Brush the teeth and gums after each feeding.
Begin dental checkups when the baby is 6 to 12 months old.
Ask a dentist about the need for fluoride.
Floss the child's teeth as soon as all the baby teeth have erupted, usually when the child is 2 to 3 years old.
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Research suggests that children who have baby bottle tooth decay are at risk for more dental problems later
in childhood. These children may have more cavities and gum disease, and adult teeth may come in crooked. Speech
problems, ear infections, discolored permanent teeth known as Turner tooth, and nutritional problems from early loss of
baby teeth can also occur.
What are the risks to others?
The bacteria that cause cavities can be passed from one person to another through kissing or biting, although this
is not common.
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