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BABY BOTTLE TOOTH DECAY

Nov 29, 2015 News

By Dr. NerominiFagu
Last week we discussed the importance of taking care of baby teeth and gums.  According to the Centre for Disease Control, “dental caries may be the most prevalent of all the infectious diseases that affect humans.”  Let us this week continue our discussion on tooth decay in infants and young children.This form of tooth decay is known by many names including Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (BBTD), Rampant caries, Nursing Bottle Syndrome and Early Childhood Caries.  Unlike caries in adult teeth, BBTD mainly affects the front baby teeth of young children.
Many of you may have seen children with BBTD and not think much about it or its consequences.
As mentioned last week, BBTD is a rapid form of tooth decay caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child’s teeth to sugary liquids.The sugary substance can be from liquids in bottles and include milk, formula, juice, soda or other sweetened drinks.
The condition is also associated with children who fall asleep while breast feeding or with children whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in sugary substances.  If sweet fluids are left in the mouth while the child is sleeping it increases the chances of cavities.
Giving a young child a sugary drink at nap or nighttime is harmful because during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to stay on the child’s teeth for a long period of time. Bacteria in the mouth then change the sugar in the sugary liquids into acid that attacks the teeth and breaks down the enamel.
Also, each time you eat or drink, that acid can attack the teeth for 20 minutes or longer.  Over time, tooth decay can develop and form a cavity which if left untreated can result in pain and infection.  Severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted.
Although baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth, taking proper care of baby teeth is important for several reasons.  Baby teeth last for one-sixth of a person’s life and are necessary for proper chewing of food and digestion.  Chewing on well-formed baby teeth also helps the jaw bones to grow and develop properly.
The presence of front teeth is necessary for learning speech sounds and proper language development. Baby teeth act as a placeholder for the adult teeth.  If the baby teeth are lost early, the adult teeth may grow in crooked or in a crowded arrangement which can lead to the need for orthodontic treatment later.
It is important to note that children do not lose all of their baby teeth at once and certain baby molars are expected to last longer in the child’s mouth up to 12 to13 years of age.  Healthy teeth also contribute to a child’s well-being and self-esteem.
Treatment of BBTD will depend on the stage of the disease as well as the child’s age.  In the early stages close monitoring along with fluoride treatment and oral health instructions are usually done.  In advanced stages, when cavities are formed, fillings for front teeth are done and stainless steel crowns are recommended for back teeth.  More invasive treatments like pulpectomies (root canal treatment) or extractions may be indicated for severe cases.
You can help prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay by:
·    Cleaning your child’s teeth daily
·    Not allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle filled with juice, milk, or formula
·    Not letting your child sip on a bottle filled with juice, milk, or formula for long periods of time as a pacifier
·    Giving your child plain water when he or she is thirsty
·    Making dietary changes such as diluting fruit juices and giving more healthy snacks
·    Ensuring your child gets the fluoride needed to prevent decay
·    Scheduling regular dental check-ups for your child beginning when their first tooth appears
Remember, children need healthy baby teeth to chew food, to speak, and to allow adult teeth to grow correctly. Proper usage and correct monitoring of baby bottles, food and drink can greatly assist in the prevention of BBTD.  Learning and practicing proper oral hygiene from an early age is the best way to ensure good dental health.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected].

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