Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Treatment
Posted on January 18th, 2023 | Christopher Neal
Preventing & Treating Bottle Rot in Children
Young children can be susceptible to what is known as baby bottle decay or bottle rot, a dental issue that is caused by the excessive consumption of sugary liquids that leave teeth exposed to decay-causing bacteria. Preventing baby bottle tooth rot is easier than treating it, however, in the event that your child’s baby teeth are affected by tooth decay, the team at Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry can help.
What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay is what occurs when a child’s teeth, typically their front teeth, become damaged from drinking out of a bottle. Drinking from a bottle is normal for infants and toddlers, however, it can cause tooth rot if not monitored.
What is the Cause of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Baby bottle rot, or “bottle mouth,” is caused by the excessive consumption of sugary drinks from a baby bottle. Many children like to go to bed with a bottle or carry it around almost as a security blanket. However, due to the shape of bottle openings, this can cause the beverage of choice to gather around their teeth and gums.
Baby bottle tooth decay is also called “milk rot” for the reason that sweet drinks like milk, formula, and juice are responsible for causing bottle rotted teeth, especially tooth decay of the front teeth specifically.
Signs of Bottle Rot
Some signs of baby bottle tooth decay include the following:
- White spots on teeth
- Toothaches
- Cavities (also called dental caries)
- Bleeding or inflamed gums
- Fever if infection has occurred
- Tooth erosion
Treatment
If your child is showing signs of baby bottle tooth decay, then it’s important to visit your pediatric dentist as soon as possible. Prevention and treatment for baby bottle rot typically consists of the following:
- Cavity fillings
- Dental sealants
- Dental bonding or crowns (this is sometimes necessary if the teeth have been worn down or into an irregular shape)
- Tooth extraction (in severe cases)
- Regular dental check-ups
Prevention is part of baby bottle rot treatment, and consists of:
- Cleaning your child’s teeth and gums regularly
- Eliminating juice and other sweet drinks from bottle use
- Limiting the amount of time your child spends drinking milk or formula from a bottle (use another type of drinking container)
- Cleaning the bottle thoroughly between uses
- Not allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle
- Not leaving your child unattended with a bottle
- Bottle weaning
Contact Us at Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry in Palos Heights, IL
If you are concerned for your child’s developing smile and want to know how to protect their healthy baby teeth, visit us at Chicago KiDDS Pediatric Dentistry. As a premier children’s dentist in Palos Heights, IL, we make your child’s oral health our top priority and offer both preventative and restorative dental care.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
