Baby bottle tooth decay – baby bottle caries

All parents have their children’s best interest in mind when they first put their little one to bed with a bottle or sippy cup. We all know it can be comforting for them and helps them fall asleep.

Sadly the negatives of this habit for extended periods far out weigh the positives.“Baby bottle Caries” is a real problem. When children go to bed with a cup or bottle containing juice, milk, or Gatorade, etc. the last thing on their teeth is sugar. And when they wake up and find it, another dose of sugar washes over their teeth. As a child sleeps there salivary flow decreases and the sugar on their teeth is easily converted to acid by bacteria in their mouths. This process leads to rampant cavities.

No matter how much comfort from a bottle your child gets to fall asleep. The results are tragic.

I have seen 2 year olds need full mouth extractions. It is very sad and unfortunately a common problem.

So what do you do as a parent? Well, the first option is cold turkey, which obviously may not go over well at first, but your child will eventually fall asleep and lose the dependency on a cup or bottle. Another option is to give the child a pacifier ( not dipped in milk or sugar). The third option is to begin diluting the milk or juice with water gradually so that after a few weeks, only water is in the cup. This can be a difficult process, but I encourage you to make the effort and give your child the best opportunity for a healthy smile.