Babies love their bottles but mommies do not love tooth decay. Even though the baby’s temporary teeth would fall out one day, maintaining hygiene and preventing them from cavities is important.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is a common term used for referring to cavities in babies and toddlers. Teeth play an important role in the child’s development. They help them chew properly, speak fluently and look presentable. These temporary teeth also lay forth the foundations for the next set of permanent teeth to come, thus good oral hygiene is quite important for babies.
What Causes Baby Bottle Decay?
Before understanding how we can prevent Baby Bottle Decay in babies, it’s necessary to know the underlying factors that cause it in the first place. This will help us take better preventive steps. This type of tooth decay mostly happens in the upper front teeth of the baby, and then gradually spreads to other regions in the mouth.
One common factor that leads to baby bottle tooth decay is sugar. When the baby’s teeth are exposed to sweetened fluids like milk, glucose, baby food, juices, etc. the sugar in these products clings onto the baby’s teeth. Sugar is a natural substance that feeds the bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria in turn releases acids that damage the baby’s teeth.
3 Tips to Prevent Baby Bottle Decay
It’s always better to prevent than cure, thus the mother must keep a check on the baby’s oral hygiene and introduce gentle brushing even before the baby’s first tooth erupts. Here are three effective tips to avoid baby bottle decay-
Keep the Baby Bottle Clean
The one thing that remains the most in a baby’s mouth is their bottle, and thus keeping good care of the bottle is important. Always keep the bottle clean by either boiling it in hot water or microwaving the bottle. This helps in sterilizing the bottle and avoiding the transmission of bacteria. Other methods such as using an electric steamer to sterilize the bottles can also work. To maintain the baby’s oral health it is advised to sterilize the bottle weekly.
Say no to Sugars
A major contributor to tooth decay for any age group is sugar. It’s not advised to completely avoid sugar as it’s quite important for a baby’s development, but it is necessary to keep the sugar levels low to avoid bacteria feeding on them. Babies don’t need different kinds of fruit juices, thus keeping them away from them would be the best choice. Instead, opt for breast milk-based formulas for healthy development.
Gum Health Matters
Gums also play an important role in tooth decay and, thus maintaining good gum health matters. As parents, you can clean the baby’s gums with a clean cloth or gauze pad after feeding baby formula or milk. Try encouraging healthy eating habits in front of babies and avoid unhealthy food options like frostings, juices, candies, etc.
The American Dental Association advises parents to start developing a brushing habit with their babies within the first six months.
Conclusion
Baby’s teeth are gentle and, thus, it is necessary to take good care of them. Talk to your dentist and schedule your baby’s first appointment to understand their oral health to avoid tooth decay.