Nursing caries, or tooth decay, can be caused by children sleeping with bottles. This is also called baby bottle tooth decay. It is caused when a child goes to bed with a bottle filled with milk or juice - anything except water. It usually affects children between the ages of 1 and 2 years. Breastfed infants who fall asleep while breastfeeding are also at risk. How do I know whether my child is developing Nursing Bottle Caries?
The following are the most common ways in which nursing caries manifests. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. The major symptoms are-
- white opaque spots on the teeth
- early development of cavities (brown areas on the tooth that lead to tooth destruction)
- progressive loss of tooth structure (leading to pain)
How can I prevent my child's teeth from getting lost due to nursing bottle caries?
The following are suggestions to help prevent nursing caries:
- Never let your child fall asleep with a bottle of anything other than water! Milk, fruit juice, formula, or sweetened liquids contain sugars and can cause dental caries
- reduce as much as possible the frequency of sweetened drinks and foods. Don't let your child use a sweetened
pacifier or feeding bottle always, carrying it around taking one sip every now and then. - Wean your child from the bottle a the appropriate time.
- Right after every feed, wipe your child's gums and inside of the cheeks, roof of the mouth and tongue with a clean damp gauze pad or cloth. As soon as the teeth begin erupting, continue proper dental care by brushing them with a soft-bristled brush. You can start using toothpastes once the child crosses his second age of life.
- If you notice any white or stained areas in your baby's teeth, see a pediatric dentist.
- Initiate fluoride therapy, as recommended by your Pediatric Dentist.
- Schedule early dental visits for your child, at least by six months of age (once the first tooth erupts into the oral cavity)
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