Bottle Rot: More Dangerous Than It Looks!

What is baby bottle decay?

Bottle caries is a dental problem that starts with the upper front incisors and progresses very rapidly to other teeth. Bottle decay first manifests itself with yellowish, chalk-like stains on the teeth. Then, it becomes more black-brown and becomes literally rotten.

What causes bottle decay?

Just like adults, these bruises are caused by poor oral care and malnutrition. Especially, it occurs when the sugar of the ingredients in or added to the formula given to the baby with a bottle before bedtime accumulates in the teeth. This accumulation increases bacterial growth in the mouth during sleep and causes the onset of bottle rot.

Feeding the baby with a bottle of formula while lying down causes the liquid to go directly to the roots of the anterior teeth. This makes it easier for the caries to spread.

Failure to clean the mouth after consuming sugary and acidic foods also causes tooth decay in babies.

In fact, not only formula but also breast milk contains lactose called milk sugar. Therefore, attention should be paid to the oral hygiene of the baby after breastfeeding.

Is there a treatment for baby bottle caries?

Treatment of milk tooth decay is done according to the severity of the disease. If there are mild bruises, filling can be done, if there are advanced bruises, extraction can be done. Some cases of bottle decay can be very serious and inflamed. In this case, procedures such as drying the inflammation with medication first and then performing a bottle decay surgery by giving general anesthesia may be the case.

But of course, the most important thing is to take precautions and start treatment early without allowing the baby’s teeth to come to this state!

What happens if baby bottle decay is not treated?

Parents usually care about their baby’s mouth and teeth with the thought that milk teeth will fall off and new teeth will come. they do not give the necessary importance to their hygiene.

However, not treating bottle decays in a timely manner;

It causes gum infections, infections to cyst the palate, malnutrition and growth retardation, damage to tooth buds that are waiting to come out.In addition, as it will cause aesthetic problems, social development is also damaged.

All You Need to Know About Dental Health and Dental Care in Babies in 9 Questions!

How to prevent bottle decay?

Avoid the habit of feeding your baby with a bottle before sleep. If you are feeding, clean your mouth right after this process. Adding biscuits, molasses and honey into their food. Apply products such as jam and honey to get used to the pacifier and do not give it to your mouth. Make sure your baby drinks water or rinse his mouth with water after he eats. Start care immediately after your teeth come out. You can clean your mouth and teeth with the help of a wet cheesecloth or finger toothbrushes. Teach a baby toothbrush from age 1 to brush your teeth using just water. Have him repeat this twice in the morning after breakfast and before going to bed in the evening. When the baby is 1 year old, he stops the habit of bottle feeding. From age 3, you can use an age-appropriate baby toothpaste. Instead of carbohydrate and sugary snacks that stick to the teeth and allow bacteria to form, you should give your baby foods such as fruits and vegetables that are also beneficial for tooth cleaning.