You Can Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

If your baby or toddler has a habit of falling asleep with a baby bottle in his or her mouth baby bottle tooth decay could happen, especially if the bottle is filled with juice, soda, formula, or milk. Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth and need to be looked after just as carefully.

According to The American Dental Association, baby bottle tooth decay occurs when natural sugars or sweetened liquids cling to a baby or toddlers teeth for long periods. Mouth bacteria thrive on sugar converting it to acid that will attack teeth.

Children who fall asleep with a bottle during naptime or at night or kids who have their pacifiers dipped in syrup or sugar are at risk when it comes to baby bottle decay. Giving babies sugary drinks at bedtime is especially risky because saliva flow is reduced during sleep.

Although baby bottle tooth decay usually occurs in front teeth, other baby teeth could also be affected.

Baby teeth may be temporary, but they are just as important. Baby teeth help your children speak, chew, and smile. Baby teeth also act as a placeholder for adult or permanent teeth. If baby bottle tooth decay isn’t taken care of, infection and pain may result. If the decay is too bad, the teeth may have to go.

If teeth are infected or even lost due to baby bottle decay, your baby could develop bad eating habits, crooked teeth, and speech problems and even damaged permanent teeth. With that being said, there are some things you can do to help prevent baby bottle tooth decay.

• Wipe your baby’s gums with a washcloth after feeding
• Start brushing your baby or toddlers teeth without toothpaste when the first tooth erupts
• Massage and clean gums that don’t have teeth
• Floss once your baby’s teeth have all come in
• Make sure that your baby or toddler is getting enough fluoride
• Schedule regular checkups with your dentist by your baby’s first birthday
• Ask your dentist about dental sealants which can help prevent cavities 

If you would like more information about baby bottle tooth decay, talk to your dentist today. 

Do You Have Dry Mouth?

If you suffer from Dry Mouth, you know it's much more than a thirsty feeling. When you have Dry Mouth, your salivary glands make very little, if any saliva. If you don’t have any saliva, it makes it hard to eat, taste, and digest food and drink. Saliva also flushes the food particles out of your teeth reducing the bacteria and acid that can cause tooth decay.

The Feeling

The corners of your mouth will dry out because of a lack of saliva. If you have Dry Mouth, your lips can also crack. Sores may also form around your mouth with your tongue feeling dry and rough. Severe cases of Dry Mouth can also make it difficult to talk or swallow.

It's Awkward

Because you don’t have enough saliva to rinse the food and debris from your teeth and gums, you may have chronic bad breath. People with Dry Mouth who wear lipstick may also have to constantly wipe it off their teeth because there is no saliva to get the job done. If you are hoarse or have a tickly throat, you could have Dry Mouth.

Medications

There are over 400 different types of over the counter and prescription drugs that can cause Dry Mouth. Prescription drugs that you take for anxiety, stress or to sleep at night, could be causing your Dry Mouth. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or depression the drugs that you are taking could be to blame. Neck and head radiation and chemotherapy can also cause Dry Mouth.

Nerve Damage

If you have had a neck or head injury, or surgery, you could have Dry Mouth as some of the nerves that carry the messages from your brain to your salivary glands could be damaged. Those damaged nerves do not have the ability to communicate with your salivary glands.

Other Conditions

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that could be to blame for your Dry Mouth. The medical condition causes your white blood cells to attack the salivary and tear glands. People who have HIV or diabetes can also develop Dry Mouth.

Tobacco Use

If you smoke pipes, cigars, cigarettes or a Hookah pipe, you are more susceptible to Dry Mouth than people who do not use tobacco. Even chewing tobacco can cause Dry Mouth.

Brush and Floss

Your dentist recommends that you brush twice and floss once each day and use an American Dental Association recommended mouth rinse. If you can’t brush after you eat, rinse your mouth, and drink water throughout the day.

If you have Dry Mouth or think you may have developed it, call or click and schedule an appointment with your dentist who may be able to help with your chronic Dry Mouth. Call or click today.