Preventing "Baby Bottle Decay"

Your baby’s first tooth is a precious moment. All the fussy days and sleepless nights end in a sweet little addition to their smile. 

These fresh pearly whites may not be around forever, but they’re still important! Baby teeth help your child learn how to speak. They also help establish healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. This means that taking care of these temporary teeth isn’t something to overlook.

When babies or young children develop tooth decay, it’s often called “baby bottle decay”.This is because it’s usually caused by, you guessed it, bottles. When a baby or young child has bottles in their mouth throughout the day, especially in bed, it can cause tooth damage or decay. 

So how do you keep your baby’s new teeth shiny and healthy? There are two things you can do and two things you should never do to help your child’s teeth stay strong. 

Prevent Baby Bottle Decay By…

You can prevent decay by saying “no” to sugary drinks in bottles or sippy cups. These are easy to carry and sip on during the day. Exposing your baby’s teeth to sugar all day drastically increases their chances of baby bottle decay. A quick reference list of things to keep out of your baby’s bottle or sippy all day:

• Juice
• Soda or any drink with a high sugar content
• Milk, especially chocolate milk
• Baby or toddler formula

Encourage Strong Baby Teeth By…

Instead of giving your baby anything on the list above, give them fresh water. Milk, formula, and juice won’t hurt your baby to drink. Since they’ll wreak havoc on your baby’s teeth, though, make sure you only offer them at mealtimes. 

Water is the best hydrator you could give your toddler, and it’s great for their teeth. Water helps rinse out harmful bacteria and sugars. It’s an easy way to keep your child’s mouth clean! 

Prevent Baby Bottle Decay By… 

Another important way to prevent baby bottle decay is to keep the bottle out of bed. A bottle or sippy with some water in it would be fine, but keep the formula, milk, or juice to the daytime. After you brush your child’s teeth for the night, they shouldn’t drink anything besides water. 

Encourage Strong Baby Teeth By…

Taking care of your child’s teeth the same way you take care of your own. Brush gently twice a day -- after breakfast and before bed. 

Before 18 months, don’t use toothpaste. Just wipe your baby’s mouth and teeth with a soft bristled brush or clean cloth. At 18 months, you can start adding toothpaste. Use only a tiny smear (the size of a grain of rice) until they’re older and can spit it out. 

Make sure they have plenty of calcium in their diets and take them to see a dentist regularly. Children should see a dentist starting at a year old. This helps keep an eye on any issues that may develop and form healthy habits. 

Healthy Baby Teeth, Healthy Baby

Welcoming your baby’s first tooth can be a bittersweet moment. That first tooth poking through their gums reminds you that your baby is growing up. On the other hand, it’s another opportunity for you to teach them skills that will last a lifetime. 

When your baby’s teeth are healthy, it’s a sign your baby is also healthy. Reading about baby bottle decay can be worrying, but it’ll all be ok. Use these tips and contact Sweet Tooth Dentistry if you have any concerns. You and your baby are in this together, and you’re doing a great job getting started!