How To Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Infants and toddlers can get tooth cavities. That surprises some parents, but it’s a fairly common finding. It’s called Early Childhood Caries, and more popularly, as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.
It is a major oral health problem, affecting infants and preschool children worldwide. It is the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth in children aged 71 months (5 years) or younger. It starts as a white-spot lesion in the upper front teeth along the gum line. If it goes on unchecked, caries can progress, leading to complete destruction of the crown. The major contributing factors for the high prevalence of this condition are improper feeding practices, familial socioeconomic background, lack of parental education, and lack of access to dental care.
One of most common causes of the condition is the frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to drinks that contain sugar.
Tooth decay can occur when the baby is put to bed with a bottle, or when a bottle is used as a pacifier. Also, cavity-causing bacteria can be passed from the mother (or primary caregiver) to the infant. These bacteria are passed through the saliva, as when the mother puts the baby’s feeding spoon or cleans a pacifier in her mouth, the bacteria can be passed to the baby.
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