Baby Bottles

Baby bottle tooth decay is something that happens when a child drinks milk or juice right before bed after brushing their teeth. At Oro Valley Pediatric Dentistry, we suggest preventive treatments to avoid this. If you have questions about baby bottle tooth decay in Tucson, Arizona, or would like to schedule an appointment with our dentists, Dr. Nathan Sprenger or Dr. Andrew Stucki, give us a call today at 520-297-5900.

When an infant’s tooth has contact with sugar for a prolonged period of time, this causes an issue called baby bottle tooth decay. This often occurs when part of the child’s bedtime routine is drinking juice or milk as they go to sleep. The bacteria in the mouth feed off the sugar, multiply and cause tooth decay.
People often think that decayed baby teeth are not a big deal because children lose them anyway, but children need their teeth to speak, chew and smile properly. Baby teeth also hold space for permeant teeth. Without them, children’s teeth would become very misaligned.

Our dentists and team offer many suggestions to avoid this. Some of them are:

• Only put formula, breast milk or milk in bottles or sippy cups.
• Make sure your child only uses clean pacifiers.
• Do not let your child sleep with a bottle of juice or milk.
• Wipe your infant’s gums with a washcloth after they eat.
• Establish a brushing routine as soon as your child’s teeth begin to grow in.
• Floss your child’s teeth after all of their teeth have grown in.
• Limit the amount of juice your child consumes.
• Schedule regular dental visits by the time your child turns 1.

If you want to learn more or have any questions about baby bottle tooth decay, please contact our office today!