Nothing is more pure, soulful than a smiling baby.
Preserving this innocent smile is definitely possible. But sometimes due to many reasons this smile gets affected by dental cavities.
And if you are wondering, do small children also suffer from cavities? Then the answer unfortunately is ‘YES’!
The decay that affects small children is called as ‘Baby Bottle Tooth Decay’
It commonly affects the upper front teeth.
Signs of baby bottle tooth decay :
- Pain and discomfort in the mouth
- Visible tooth decayed upper front teeth
- Child is uncomfortable every time he/she eats
- Swelling
Treatment of baby bottle tooth decay
Let your child’s first dental visit be even before the eruption of the first tooth. If your child has any cavities, they can be detected at the very first sign by the dentist.
It is advisable to get the cavities treated as early as possible.
Treatment may include fillings or a root canal treatment depending on the severity of cavities.
Prevention of baby Bottle Tooth decay
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can do the following things to prevent your child from having baby bottle tooth decay
- After every feed, make sure to clean your baby’s gums with a damn cloth.
- Avoid sharing saliva through spoons and utensils
- Brush even the first tooth with the help of finger toothbrush
- Avoid bottle feeding at night. Make sure to remove the bottle before your child sleeps.
- Make sure to clean the child’s tooth/teeth even after night feeding.
- Avoid sugary drinks in bottle
- Ensure that pacifiers are clean before and after use.
- Don’t dip pacifiers in honey or sugary syrups.
- Have regular dental check ups for your child along with yours.
Together we can prevent the little ones from experiencing the pain and discomfort of baby bottle tooth decay.
