As you may already know, baby bottle tooth decay is a serious and dangerous problem that can ruin your child’s smile at an early age. This issue generally occurs when the sugars and bacteria from the liquids in the bottle cling to the smile and harm the gums and teeth. To help you help your child avoid the dangers of baby bottle tooth decay, our Shaia Dental Care team recommends doing the following things:
· Try not to share saliva with your child and clean their gums after each feeding. You can clean the gums by wiping them with a moist and clean washcloth or gauze pad.
· Brush your child’s teeth twice a day once they grow into place. As you brush, please use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Between the ages of 3 and 6 you can increase the amount of paste used by using a pea-sized amount.
· If your child likes to brush on their own, please supervise and make sure they are properly cleaning each tooth. Also, please do not let your child swallow the paste.
· Only place milk, breast milk, and formula into the bottle rather than sugary drinks, like soda and juice.
· Make sure your child drinks all of the contents of their bottle before they lie down to go to sleep.
· Do not dip your child’s binky in sugar or honey.
If you would like to know more about ways to prevent baby bottle tooth decay, please remember that you can always call 440-884-9898 today and talk to Dr. Anthony Shaia or a member of our caring dental team. We are happy to talk with you and find the best ways to guarantee a strong and healthy smile for your child!