Bottle rot is the tooth decay caused from the liquids that a young infant gets from their bottle or their baby cup. This is referring to the cavities that are formed in the new teeth of a baby. This tooth decay will set a child up for future dental problems if it is not resolved quickly and effectively. A baby can have many painful dental issues with their teeth as they grow. The dental problems are a direct result from the early dental issues in their life. They may end up with teeth that are not properly set inside of their mouth and often will have many cavities all through their childhood. The future dental issues will be very costly and quite painful for a child. There are ways to prevent bottle rot with the help of some useful tips and added education. One very important item to keep in mind, never place anything in their baby bottle except for water, breast milk, or formula. This is a giant step toward preventing bottle rot. The cause of bottle rot must be understood by every parent in order to prevent it from happening in the first place. Many parents unconsciously make the mistake of filling the bottles with various sweet drinks in order to pacify their baby. Many parents will put their baby to bed with a bottle too. These things tend to expose their little teeth to much harm because the liquids sit on the teeth and can cause decay and other harmful issues.
Preventing Bottle Rot in a Simple Way
There are some very good tips that every parent can put in place in order to prevent bottle rot from happening to their baby. Incorporate the following routines into your household in order to prevent bottle rot from occurring:
• put a brushing routine in place; do this before your baby has teeth. Use a soft cloth and gently wipe the gums after every single meal. Do this before you lay your baby down for bedtime. When your baby gets their teeth in, use a baby toothbrush and gently brush their teeth at least twice a day
• make sure your baby has finished drinking their bottle before their nap; it is not a good idea to allow your baby to take a bottle to bed. Try to prevent your little one from keeping a bottle in their mouth for long periods of time to keep the liquid off of their teeth as much as possible
• use caution when filling their bottle with liquids; absolutely never fill a bottle with sodas, juices or any type of sweetened drinks. When your baby moves up to a little cup, it will be all right to fill it with juices and you can dilute it with some extra water to eliminate some of the sugar
• do not dip a pacifier in honey or sugar
• be sure to sterilize you baby’s bottle on a regular basis. The goal is to remove any bacteria with the sterilization process. Always use hot soapy water and rinse well after each use and in between the sterilizing. You can use boiling water and soak at least once a week
These are the many ways that a parent and a caregiver of a baby can prevent bottle rot from occurring. These tips will alleviate many future dental problems while keeping your baby away from painful moments.
Breaking Habits in a Gradual Way
Your baby may be used to drinking sweets and they may have difficulty breaking some of the habits that are currently in place, such as not wanting to take their nap without a bottle. Try to break their habits gradually. You can slowly remove their bottle for naps until they get used to going to bed without one. You can dilute beverages with water until you completely remove their bottle during naps. This may take some time for adjusting; however, it is necessary in order for your child to have strong oral health. Remember that your child’s first dental visit should be within the first 6 months of their first erupted tooth. This is an imperative time to determining if your child has or is experiencing bottle rot. Contact us today to book an appointment for your child. During your child’s appointment, the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa will be happy to provide added education about bottle rot.
