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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:
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.
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.
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.
Fractured Tooth:
Primary (Baby) tooth knocked out:
Permanent tooth knocked out:
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:
Don't:
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.
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:
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 |
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.
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
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:
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: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.