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Baby Tooth Decay: What Parents Need to Know

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Even though baby teeth will eventually be replaced with adult teeth, protecting your child’s mouth against tooth decay plays a vital role in your baby’s health. If tooth decay develops, it can lead to painful, expensive infections and gum disease.

What is baby bottle tooth decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay (sometimes called early childhood caries) happens when cavity-causing bacteria break down the tooth surface (enamel). Even though bacteria in a baby's mouth is common, the combination of bacteria with food, saliva, and acid leads to cavities. Early childhood caries primarily affect the upper front teeth but can cause a domino effect in the entire mouth.

Risk Factors

Tooth decay is destructive. Cavity-causing bacteria is typically transmitted from person to person by saliva and certain lifestyle choices leave children at-risk for early childhood caries. These risk factors include:

  • Sharing baby’s feeding spoon, pacifiers, or foods with others
  • A diet concentrated in sugar and starches
  • Drinking water without fluoride
  • Practicing inconsistent oral hygiene routines
  • Children with limited saliva flow or dry mouth

Signs of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Because babies and toddlers typically cannot express in words what’s wrong with their teeth, it can be challenging for parents to detect early childhood tooth decay. Here are a few signs that parents can keep in mind when inspecting their children’s teeth:

  • Brown or black spots on the front teeth
  • Chalky white or creamy-brown spots on the back teeth
  • Discomfort around the tooth
  • Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet drinks and foods

How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Young Children

Although 42% of children ages 2 to 11 experience tooth decay in their baby teeth, the good news is that baby bottle decay is vastly preventable. If you want your child to have a healthy smile, here are some actions that parents can take:

1.  Limit sugar exposure.

Just like most people, oral bacteria love sugar. Nursing bottle caries develop when children are sent to bed with milk, formula, or another sweet drink. Limiting the amount of time that sugar is on the teeth and total sugar consumption helps prevent cavity development: 

  • Do not send a baby to nap or to bed with a bottle.
  • Babies are encouraged to drink only formula or breast milk.
  • Avoid soft drinks and other sugary drinks.
  • Fruit juices may be served at mealtime or not at all.
  • After a child eats, clean your baby’s gums with a soft, damp cloth.
  • If your child is sick, choose sugar-free medicines

2.   Use an appropriate amount of fluoride.

Fluoride is an essential mineral that makes the enamel more resistant to acid attacks caused by oral bacteria, which helps prevent tooth decay. Some things to keep in mind when making sure your child is getting enough fluoride are:       

  • Brush your child’s teeth with a soft toothbrush & fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
  • A child’s age helps determine how much fluoride toothpaste they need:  A rice-sized amount of toothpaste is appropriate for children under three. A pea-sized amount of toothpaste is sufficient for children over the age of three.
  • If your local drinking water is less than 0.3 parts per million of fluoride, a pediatric dentist may suggest a fluoride supplement for children over the age of six months.

Schedule Baby’s First Dentist Appointment

As soon as the first tooth appears, it’s time to schedule your baby’s first dental appointment. Our dental professional team provides dental health services (including fluoride varnish and dental sealants) and the proper equipment to tackle childhood oral health issues. Healthy baby teeth solidify a foundation of excellent, lifelong oral health.

To seek advice about how to keep your baby’s teeth healthy, schedule your child’s first dental appointment in Midlothian, VA, by calling (804) 897-9800 or messaging us online today.


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