Why does infant or baby bottle tooth decay occur?
Baby bottle or infant caries, also known by paediatric dentists as rampant caries, is a serious oral disease that affects babies and can spread rapidly. For this reason, it is essential to know what it consists of and, above all, how it can be avoided so that the little ones do not suffer from it.
What you need to know about baby bottle or infant caries to prevent its appearance.
- What is baby bottle or infant caries?
- Why does this type of tooth decay occur?
- How can this type of tooth decay be prevented?
- What is the treatment for baby bottle tooth decay?
1. What is baby bottle or infant caries?
Baby bottle or infant caries is a type of infant caries that affects babies during the breastfeeding period, especially among young children who are bottle-fed. The particularity of this type of infant oral disease is its aggressiveness and rapid progress in the demineralisation of the tooth surface of the milk tooth.
In fact, the most obvious symptom of bottle or infant caries is the appearance of white spots on the teeth which, as the disease progresses, turn yellowish or blackish. If left untreated, this caries can lead to the loss of the milk tooth, with consequences for the child’s development and may even irreversibly affect the root of the permanent tooth.
In addition, the child may have difficulties in chewing, be unable to articulate certain sounds correctly, have dental malposition and abscesses may appear. Therefore, since the development of teeth is fundamental for children and this caries can lead to their loss, it is important to know the reasons why it appears:
2. Why does this type of caries occur?
Baby bottle tooth decay is due to frequent consumption of liquids containing sugars, one of them being breast milk, as well as exposure to other liquids such as fruit juices or soft drinks. On the other hand, and as we have mentioned on other occasions, this condition is also closely related to the bad habit of sleeping with a bottle in the mouth, or wetting the soother with honey, sugar or syrup.
Some components such as maltose, glucose, sucrose or lactose present in these liquids increase the risk of caries. Remember that caries is due to the proliferation of bacteria present in the oral cavity, which feed on sugars and whose digestion causes them to secrete an acid that corrodes both hard tissues (teeth) and soft tissues (gums). Hence the importance of preventing their appearance.
3. How can this type of caries be prevented?
To avoid the appearance of baby bottle tooth decay or infant caries, it is essential to bear in mind a series of habits that can be harmful and that the lack of these habits does not help to guarantee the oral health of the youngest members of the family. For this reason, it is key:
- Not to resort to bad habits. As we have already mentioned, impregnating soothers with sugary products in an attempt to soothe babies, or letting them sleep with a bottle in their mouths where milk residue remains, are habits that can lead to this type of caries.
- Avoid feeding babies sugary liquids. On the other hand, it is not advisable to introduce the consumption of sugary liquids at such an early age. It should be borne in mind that diet is fundamental for their development and growth. In addition, after each meal it is important to
- Daily oral cleaning. Babies’ oral cavity must also be cleaned to remove any residue left by the food they have eaten, even if it is milk. There are specific gauze pads and thimbles for this purpose. We recommend reading this article on children’s oral hygiene.
- See your paediatric dentist regularly. With the appearance of the first milk teeth, parents can start to take their babies to the paediatric dentist. Regular check-ups can prevent the onset of any oral pathology and ensure that their oral health is adequate as they grow up.
4. What is the treatment for baby bottle tooth decay?
If this type of caries has already made its appearance and stains have begun to appear on the baby’s teeth, it is essential to see a paediatric dentist to find a solution to this problem and prevent the youngest member of the family from suffering the pain that appears as a result of the infection and possible tooth loss.
To do this, it is essential to fill the tooth as soon as possible, thus avoiding irreversible damage. In addition, as a preventive measure, fluoridation can be carried out if you notice that young patients are at greater risk of suffering from this problem in the future, as fluoride has a protective function, as if it were a shield.
