Baby bottle decay specifically refers to tooth decay in baby teeth that occurs as a result of inappropriate milk bottle usage. It was a popular term when we realised that many children who were falling asleep after their last bottle of milk without a round of toothbrushing after were developing tooth decay. Hence, the term baby bottle decay.
Here are the top 3 ways to ensure you can prevent baby bottle decay.
- To prevent baby bottle tooth decay, ensure that nothing besides water or milk is placed inside the milk bottle.
- Brush your child’s teeth well after the last round of milk consumed for the night. Ask which is the most appropriate toothbrush and toothpaste for your child when you are at the dentist.
- Reduce your child’s dependence on feeding from a milk bottle by bottle weaning early. Paediatricians and paediatric dentists recommend bottle weaning between 12-18 months of age. (You may also find this post helpful: How can I prevent tooth decay in my baby?)
Does this mean if we wean off the milk bottle, our child will not get decay?
Although the term baby bottle decay points directly to the misuse of the milk bottle, parents must not forget that there are many other pathways that lead to tooth decay. For instance, frequent drinks of sweet cultured milk drinks or juice can also lead to tooth decay. It does not have to be from the bottle directly.
If in doubt, always speak to your paediatric dentist who can customise the advice to better suit your child’s needs. Do remember that the first dental visit for a child should be by 1 years old!
