Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, or Baby Bottle Syndrome, or Nursing Bottle
Mouth are all terms used to describe a dental condition which involves
the rapid decay of many or all the baby teeth of an infant or child.
The teeth most likely to be damaged are the upper front teeth.
These are usually some of the first teeth to erupt and thus have
the longest exposure time to the sugars in the bottle. The lower
front teeth tend to be protected by the tongue as the child sucks
on the nipple of the bottle or the breast.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is caused by frequent exposure of a child's
teeth for long periods of time to liquid containing sugars. Liquid
pools around the front teeth when your baby falls asleep with:
- a bottle containing formula, milk or juice,
- a pacifier dipped in honey,
- while breast feeding.
During sleep, the bacteria living in every baby's mouth turns the
milk sugar or other sugars to acid which causes the decay.
Parents may not know there is a problem until serious damage has been done.
- Oral checks should be performed by parents to detect early signs
of the disease.
- Brown spots along the gumline on your child's teeth are signs which
should alert you.
- If your child prefers soft foods, frowns or cries when eating cold,
sweet or hard foods, they should be checked for tooth decay.
By the time tooth decay is noticed it may be too late and crowns,
nerve treatment or even extraction of the decayed tooth may be necessary.
As a result, your child may suffer from long term disorders which
include speech impediments, possible psychosocial problems, crooked
or crowded teeth, and poor oral healthNew.
You can prevent this from happening to your child's teeth by learning
how to protect them.
- Clean your child's teeth daily
- Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle filled with
juice, milk or formula (or when awake, sip on it for long periods
of time as a pacifier)
- Start bottle weaning by at least a year
- Give your child plain water for thirst
- Make sure your child gets the fluoride needed to prevent decay
- Have regular dental visits for your child beginning when their first
tooth erupts
Most children begin life with strong, healthNewy teeth. Help your
child's teeth stay that way. Your newborn is totally dependent upon
you as a parent. The decisions you make will have a vital effect
on your child's dental future.
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First Aid - Injuries to Teeth
Fractured Tooth:
- Find the broken tooth fragment if possible
- Visit a paediatric dentist. The dentist can usually restore the
broken tooth even if you cannot find the broken part.
Primary (Baby) tooth knocked out:
- Do not put the tooth back.
- Visit a paediatric dentist. The dentist will advise you if further
treatment is necessary.
Permanent tooth knocked out:
- Find the tooth
- Hold it by the crown - not the root
- Rinse it gently in cool water
- If possible put it back in the socket - if unable to do so put
it in milk or cool water
- Visit a paediatric dentist
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First Dental Visit
Your child's first visit to the dental office can be as early as his/her
first birthday, but could be as early as you'd like (as soon as the first
tooth erupts). Here are some Do's and Don'ts.
Do:
- have a tour of the dental office by going in for a friendly,
get acquainted visit and checkup
- make an appointment for a visual check of your child's teeth
- have a discussion with the dental hygienist or dentist about
oral health care for your child
- familiarize your child with the dental office. Consider taking
them along when you or a sibling have a dental appointment
Don't:
- wait for an emergency for the first visit
- use phrases like 'it won't hurt much'. This only creates anxiety.
Remember, future visits to the dental office will be much easier
for your child if the first visit is a positive experience.
Niagara Region Public Health Department wishes to thank the
University of Manitoba for the dental health education material.
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Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in almost all foods
and water supplies. Fluoride is the major reason that tooth decay
has been reduced dramatically over the past several decades.
The use of fluoride toothpastes is the most common and effective
way to obtain the necessary quantity of fluoride. Fluoride makes
the tooth structure stronger, so teeth are more resistant to acid
attacks. It also helps repair the early stages of tooth decay before
cavity formation begins.
Fluoride acts on the smooth surfaces of teeth, while fissure sealants
protects the tooth from decay on the pits and grooves on the chewing
surfaces.
Sometimes children do not receive the adequate levels of fluoride.
Your dentist will advise you if any additional fluoride is recommended.
In this case, fluoride may be obtained through other sources such
as:
- Community water fluoridation
- Fluoride toothpastes
- Fluoride drops
- Fluoride tablets
- Fluoride mouthrinses (over 6 years of age)
- Professionally applied topical fluoride
Guidelines for Fluoride Supplementation for Children
Table 1: Recommendations for dietary fluoride supplements for children
living in areas where the concentration of fluoride in the drinking
water is less than 0.3 PPM
| |
Recommended daily dose
of fluoride, mg |
|
| Age |
Canadian Paediatric Society (applies to all children) |
Canadian Dental Association (applies to children at high risk
of caries |
| 6 mo-2 yr |
.25 |
0 |
| 3-5 yr |
.50 |
25
(0.50 if fluoridated toothpaste is not used regularly)
|
| 6-12 yr |
Not applicable
|
1.00 |
| 6-16 yr |
1.00 |
Not applicable |
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Oral Hygiene for Children
Should I clean my baby's teeth?
Definitely. Even before the first tooth appears, use a soft, clean
cloth to wipe your baby's gums and cheeks after feeding. As soon
as the first tooth appears, begin using a small, soft bristled toothbrush
to clean the tooth after eating. Do not cover the brush with toothpaste.
Young children tend to swallow most of the toothpaste. Swallowing
too much fluoridated toothpaste can cause permanent spots on their
teeth called dental fluorosis.
I find brushing my child's teeth awkward. Any
suggestions?
Try having your child lie down. Put your child
on your lap or on the floor, keeping his/her head steady with your
legs. If your child is standing, have his/her back to you with their
head tilted slightly and resting against your body. Have your child
hold a mirror while you brush and floss their teeth so your child
can see what is being done.
Is it important to brush before bed?
Yes. If you have to miss a brushing, the bedtime one is probably
the worst one to miss. If you do not get rid of the bacteria
and sugar that cause cavities, they have all night to do harm.
While you are awake, saliva helps keep the mouth clean. When
you are asleep, there is less saliva produced to clean the mouth.
For this reason, it is important to brush before bedtime.
How to brush your child's teeth:
Every day plaque forms on the inner, outer, and chewing surface
of teeth and the gums. Tooth brushing is one of the most effective
ways to remove the plaque.
- The best kind of toothbrush to use is one with soft, round-tipped
bristles.
- A child will need a smaller brush than an adult.
- Young children do not have the manual dexterity to brush properly.
Your child will need your supervision and help brushing until
he or she is 8-10 years old to ensure a thorough brushing has
been done.
- When the bristles become bent or frayed a new brush is needed.
- Start flossing your child's teeth when the teeth touch each
other and you can no longer brush in between them.
Niagara Region Public Health Department wishes to thank
the University of Manitoba for providing dental educational
material.
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Sealants
Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied on the chewing surfaces
of back teeth, a prime spot for cavities. Sealants act as a barrier
to prevent bacteria and food from collecting and sitting on the
grooves and pits of teeth.
Sealants are best suited for permanent first molars which erupt
around the age of 6 and second molars that erupt around the age
of 12. It is important to have the sealant applied as soon as the
tooth has fully erupted.
Before the dental professional applies the sealant material, the
tooth surface is prepared by using a dental solution which cleans
the tooth surface and helps the sealant stick to the tooth by penetrating
the enamel layer.
Sealants may last for several years once applied, but should always
be examined at regular intervals. Even if the sealant becomes lost,
the material that has penetrated the enamel will still provide protection.
Sealants are easily replaced if lost.
Sealants are nearly 100% effective in preventing decay on the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth. Fluoride helps fight decay on the smooth
surfaces of the teeth.
So, sealants + fluoride + good oral cleaning habits + wise eating
= a great reduction in cavities.
Check with your oral heath professional to see if your child is
ready for sealants.
Niagara Region Public Health Department wishes to thank the
University of Manitoba for dental healthNew education material
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Teething
From six months old up to the age of three years, your child may
have sore gums when teeth erupt. The baby may cry, become nervous
or even have a fever (in case of fever visit your doctor for advice).
Other signs that your baby may be teething include:
- Red cheeks or rash on cheeks
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Increased saliva/drooling
Should your child appear to show any of these signs there are some
simple remedies that can be tried such as the following
- Many babies like a cool spoon or cold wet wash cloth placed
on the gums
- There are teething rings designed specifically for teething
- You may rub the baby's gums with a clean finger
- Teething gels or ointments are NOT recommended because they may numb the baby's throat and cause choking.
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Thumb-sucking
Thumb-sucking or finger-sucking is a habit that occurs with many
infants. Your child will usually give it up naturally by the age
of four. If the sucking habit continues beyond the time when permanent
teeth start to erupt, your child may develop crooked teeth and a
malformed palate (roof of the mouth). This results from pressure
applied by the thumb on the teeth and roof of the mouth. The severity
of the problem depends on frequency, intensity, duration and the
position in which the thumb is placed in the mouth. The relationship
between the upper and lower jaws may also be affected. Speech defects
can occur from malaligned teeth resulting from thumb-sucking and/or
finger-sucking.
Treatment:
The best prevention is to get your newborn to take up the pacifier
instead of thumb-sucking or finger-sucking. Although prolonged use
of the pacifier can lead to similar problems, the pacifier, at least,
can be removed. It is not recommended that breastfed infants be
introduced to a soother until after breastfeeding is well established,
after the first six to eight weeks of life.
Timing of treatment is important. Your child should be willing
to give up thumb-sucking or finger-sucking. If your child is not
willing to stop, therapy is not usually indicated. Pressure you
apply to stop may only lead to resistance and lack of cooperation.
Try again later.
* Give your child attention and understanding and gently discourage
the habit. Reminders such as a band-aid on the thumb can help.
* Offer rewards (star on chart, dimes, extra stories) for days
when your child is successful. Praise your child when successful.
After daytime sucking is controlled:
Help
your child to give up the sucking habit during sleep. This is usually
an involuntary process and a glove, sock, or thumb/finger guard can
help stop the habit.
Take one step at a time. Encourage your child not to suck during
one daytime activity, like storytime or television watching. Gradually
add another activity until daytime sucking is controlled.
* If these considerations are not successful, see your dental professional
or doctor for further support. By the time your child's permanent
teeth begin to erupt (at around age 6), it should be brought to
their attention.
Niagara Region Public Health Department wishes to thank the
University of Manitoba for the dental health education material.
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