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Baby Bottle Syndrome FAQs
What is baby bottle syndrome?
Baby bottle syndrome is the emergence of cavities in infants due to the overpresence of a nursing bottle in the infant's mouth.
What causes baby bottle syndrome?
Most often, the cavities resulting from baby bottle syndrome occur when an infant falls asleep with a baby bottle containing a fermentable carbohydrate (milk, juice, or soda) in his/her mouth. When the baby falls asleep, the liquid pools around the teeth, and the bacteria from the liquid created bacteria, resulting in tooth decay and eventual cavities.
Where do the cavities caused by baby bottle syndrome most often occur?
Because the infant's tongue tends to protect the lower front teeth, cavities will most often occur on the upper front teeth, but serious cases can also affect your child's molars in the back of the mouth.
What can I do as a parent to prevent baby bottle syndrome?
The most obvious prevention of baby bottle syndrome is to not allow your infant to fall asleep with a bottle in his/her mouth. However, some babies rely on a bottle to fall asleep; in this case, be sure to remove the bottle from the baby shortly after he/she falls asleep. This may require you to keep a close eye on your baby as he/she falls asleep, or to re-enter the baby's room shortly after bedtime to remove the bottle from the crib. In addition, do not allow your child to use the bottle as a pacifier, as a pool of stangnant liquid will thrive. Also, if your baby is comforted by the presence of the bottle and not by the milk, you may wish to fill the bottle with water as an alternative to milk or juice. In order to do this gradually, you may want to slowly dilute sugary substances with water until pure water is accepted by your child easily. Finally, although dipping a pacifier in honey is an old wives tale to help the baby fall asleep happy, its effects can be very detrimental on your infant's teeth.
Are there any other precautions I can take to prevent cavities associated with baby bottle syndrome?
As soon as teeth begin to erupt in your child's mouth, you should begn a routine of daily cleaning, either with a soft toothbrush or a wet washcloth, to remove any bacteria or decay that can form on or around the teeth. Also, around the child's first birthday, you should begin to establish routine visits with your dentist to ensure that any problems are addressed by a professional.
What are some warning signs that baby bottle syndrome may be occuring?
Often, the best way to check your infant's dental health is to schedule an appointment with a dentist. Usually, any visible signs of decay are noticed to the human eye after most of the damamge has been done. Brown spots along the gumline, however, may indicate baby bottle syndrome. Finally, if you notice any tooth sensitivity to hard, hot, or cold foods, you should have your child checked for tooth decay.
In closing, baby bottle syndrome is the most common way for cavities to form within the first few years of your son or daughter's life. Be sure to be aware of the adverse effects that falling asleep with a bottle may have on your baby, and also to set up a dental routine with your dentist as soon as the first teeth erupt. Should you wish to schedule a first visit for your child, please call our offices at 888.790.0309.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont and Midland Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services.
For any other questions related to cosmetic dentistry, you can Contact Us at 713.795.5905, visit our Dental Blog or Ask the Dentist.
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