Did you know that milk sugar (the naturally occurring one that come from lactose) might create tooth decay in babies?
What Is Baby Bottle Decay and How to Prevent It
It is true, we’ve seen it many times. If a baby falls asleep with a bottle of milk his/her teeth will stay soaked in milk for an extended period of time creating tooth decay. We know it’s frustrating and the baby will not fall asleep without the bottle. But you should try hard, for your baby own good, to make him/her finish the bottle before falling asleep then wipe his gums with a soft, damp washcloth. If the teeth are erupted, brush his/her teeth with a soft, children size toothbrush and a small amount of non-fluoride toothpaste. Take your child to the dentist as soon as their first birthday. It’s really sad to have to put your baby to sleep to be able to fix his/her cavities as such a young age. But as sad as it is it is not the only issue. Premature loss of baby teeth may upset the correct position of permanent teeth and therefore increase need for braces treatment to correct. prevention is the key.
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Pediatric Dental Care in Elk Grove
Tips for Protecting Your Baby’s Teeth
For a more comprehensive understanding, we invite you to read Avoid added sugars as much as you can! and Training a Generation of Flossing Masters, which expand on the principles introduced here.
Browse our full collection of articles in Family & Kids Dentistry for more insights on this approach to dental care.