What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? The Causes, Complications, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

This post is sponsored by Dentistry for Children & Adolescents

What Causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD) is a form of tooth decay associated with bottle use. While drinking from a baby bottle does not automatically spell trouble, it can expose the upper front teeth to acids from the milk or juice in the bottle. These acids support cavity-causing bacteria while also damaging tooth enamel. BBTD most often occurs when parents leave a bottle of milk, juice, or other sugary drink in the baby’s crib. The baby may suck on the bottle throughout the night or fall asleep with it still in their mouth at naptime. These behaviors result in regular, prolonged exposure to the acids and sugars in the bottle.

Complications

At any age, tooth decay and enamel damage threaten dental health. Bacteria that break through the enamel can create toothaches, gum infections, and jawbone abscesses. These problems cause pain, interfere with chewing and can lead to systemic health problems. Although baby teeth eventually make way for permanent teeth, you should NOT consider them unimportant to your child’s long-term dental wellness. The eruption and spacing of these teeth help guide the permanent teeth into their preferred positions. Baby teeth lost to decay can raise the risk that your baby’s permanent teeth might erupt incorrectly.

Symptoms

Early BBTD symptoms can easily elude a parent’s casual inspection. Look for subtle white discolorations around the gum line of your baby’s top front teeth. Brown discoloration may indicate a cavity produced by BBTD. Your dentist can detect these early warning signs during a routine exam.

As BBTD progresses, your child may experience oral pain, swelling, bad breath, fever, and bleeding gums. These symptoms call for prompt evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Treatment

Pediatric dentists can treat BBTD in a variety of ways. In the early stages of decay, fluoride treatments can restore a baby’s tooth enamel. However, if your baby’s dental alignment or condition presents unique challenges, your dentist may recommend sealants. These plastic coatings offer extra protection against decay.

Severe cases of BBTD may require dental restoration. Permanent crowns protect teeth from weak, thin, or damaged enamel. Baby teeth with large cavities may benefit more from metal crowns than ordinary fillings. In addition, the dentist may extract the diseased tooth if an infection threatens neighboring teeth.

Prevention

The first step in preventing BBTD involves watching what you put into that bottle. At naptime and bedtime, fill the bottle only with water. After daytime feedings, use a clean cloth to clean your baby’s gums. You should avoid filling the baby bottle with juices or sugary drinks even during these times. 

The choice of water for your baby’s bottle can also make a difference. Use tap water if the water in your area contains fluoride. If you cannot access fluoridated water, ask your dentist to recommend a fluoride supplement. You can also brush your child’s baby teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste.

The same choices that lower the risk of BBTD can serve your child well in later life. For example, avoid serving your child juice, or dilute it with water and do it only with meals. Teach your child the importance of brushing and flossing. Serve healthy snacks such as cheese and nuts instead of sweets.

Remember that BBTD can quickly go unnoticed in its early stages. Fortunately, your pediatric dentist has the necessary skills and equipment to spot the problem in time to treat it. For this reason, you should schedule your baby’s first checkup within six months of the eruption of the first baby tooth or by your baby’s first birthday.

Contact Dentistry for Children & Adolescents today!

At Dentistry for Children & Adolescents, we have been committed to providing children with the highest standard of pediatric dental care in and around the Edina, Burnsville and Minnetonka, Minnesota areas, including Maple Grove and St. Cloud since 1968!  Our professionally trained pediatric dentists, along with our team do all they can to make your children’s dental experience as pleasant as possible. We believe that with good oral home care, routine dental visits, and preventive procedures, your children can grow up cavity-free. We see patients from infancy through the age of 18 and are specialized in treating children with special needs – making us the perfect ‘dental home’ for your children!