How Baby Bottles can Cause Tooth Decay in Babies

July 21, 2016, Summer Brook Dental

Every parent wants to give their baby the best start in life.  One of the ways in which parents of babies can do this is to ensure they are preventing tooth decay from an early age. Parents need to be properly informed about the link between baby bottles and tooth decay and how to prevent it. This is a bigger problem than most parents understand. It stems from bottles not being properly sanitized before being given to children. They can spread bacteria in the child's mouth, increase the development of sugars and create chewing habits. By taking your time to not only wash, but sanitize your child's bottles and nipples, you will have the greatest likelihood of eliminating tooth decay in your baby.

Spreading bacteria in your child's mouth

The first thing to understand is how the decay happens in the first place. This is a result of bacteria being harbored in the nipple or the bottle themselves. As the child sucks on the bottle, the bacteria are transferred to the mount of the baby. Because the average child has a bottle for 5-10 minutes, according to Parenting Magazine, you increase the likelihood of bacteria transfer. This is 10 times longer than the exposure an adult has to even the dirtiest utensil. Worse, the nipple is right against the teeth, which makes it impossible for your child not to pick up bacteria from the bottle if it is present.

Develop sugars

Another concern to parents and someone like a dentist in aurora, Colorado is the fact that having a nipple in your baby's mouth for an extended period of time can develop sugars in the mouth. This is more common in children that use the bottle like a pacifier. They chew at a nipple that had milk in it. Milk has sugars in it that make it sweet and enjoyable to most people. If these sugars stay on the teeth for extended periods of time they weaken the teeth and make it more likely that the child will have some problems with decay over time.

Create chewing habits

Chewing habits all by themselves can create tooth decay. If you allow your child to have extended periods of time with a bottle, you're increasing the likelihood they will develop chewing habits. This is a problem, because your baby will end up putting more things in its mouth than is normal. This includes items that are loaded with bacteria. You will result in having to see the experts at SummerBrook Dental Group more often and still run the risk of permanent tooth decay and loss.

The time which babies use bottles is a brief, but important time in their young lives. This is why it is important to start with good health practices for bottle feeding as soon as possible. Your little one is relying on you to make the best decisions to ensure their health now and in the future.

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