Baby Bottle Tooth Decay | Dentist in Houston & Pearland, TX
If your baby has any teeth that have graced the surface of their gums, it is important to care for the teeth to prevent what is commonly called baby bottle tooth decay. Baby bottle tooth decay can occur for a number of reasons. If the child is subjected to sugar early on, or other materials that can lead to tooth decay, typically from bottles, it is likely damage to the teeth can occur.
Below are tips for preventing baby bottle tooth decay:
– Do not leave a bottle in the baby’s mouth during nap time.
– Be careful what you put into drinking bottles for babies. Focus on using only formula, milk, or breast milk in the bottles. Do not use liquids such as sugar water, juice, soft drinks, or energy drinks.
– If the baby has any teeth that have broken through the gumline, use toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Slowly brush their teeth with a child-sized toothbrush and an amount of toothpaste roughly the size of a grain of rice.
– Do not dip the child’s pacifier in sweet substances such as honey or sugar.
– Avoid contaminating anything the baby uses for his/her mouth. Do not share food utensils or pacifiers.
Baby bottle tooth decay is preventable if you take the necessary steps to protect your little ones. If you have not made time for your dentist at TLN Family Dental, and would like to make an appointment with Dr. Tammeka Nickleberry, please contact us today. We can be reached at 713-723-2600 or by stopping by our office in Houston, Texas. We will help you in any way we can.