Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
As adults, we have spent our lives knowing to brush and floss our teeth before bed. We don’t (or shouldn’t) have free access to food and drink all night long without brushing again. So why would we give a child a bottle of milk, juice, or any liquid to suck on literally all night long?
All too often, parents, in desperation to sleep through the night, give their child a bottle to go to sleep with. Not only are there multiple problems with this regarding sleep, but something people often forget about is how this habit affects this child’s growing teeth.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is the most common chronic infectious childhood disease. This disease occurs when bacteria in the mouth, combined with sugary substances like milk or juice, are consumed from a bottle (or sippy cup) over a prolonged time. This creates an acid which eats away at the teeth, causing painful cavities (or decay) especially at the gumline where the sugary liquids can pool around the teeth.
Babies that tend to sleep with a bottle of milk are much more susceptible to Baby Bottle Tooth Decay due to the increased exposure rate of these liquids on the teeth for such long periods of time.
Unfortunately, treatment for decay in baby teeth, usually requires having fillings placed, since these teeth will not be falling out naturally for 5-6 years. Parents typically don’t like to see their children go through the trauma of such invasive dental procedures at such a young age and would like to avoid it; as well as the cost of such appointments, which sometimes require sedation and can be very expensive. Not to mention a baby with untreated tooth pain will have even more difficulty sleeping!
Sleep consulting, and the various methods we teach, are proven to help your baby learn to fall asleep independently, without the need for a crutch, while keeping their teeth healthy.
Both dental professionals and many sleep consultants recommend brushing your child’s teeth after their last feeding before bed. This habit helps prevent them from going to sleep with the bottle as a crutch, keeps their teeth healthy, and teaches them from a very young age the importance of good oral hygiene habits before bed. Healthy teeth and good sleep have more in common than you think, and it all starts with the right habits.
