Health Leader, Baby Bottles & Tooth Decay

Baby Bottles & Tooth Decay

What is baby bottle tooth decay?

It is caused by the frequent, long-term exposure of a child's teeth to sugary liquids. The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant's teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria that cause plaque. When a child consumes a sugary liquid, acid attacks the teeth and gums, and tooth decay begins.

Tooth decay is also associated with breast-fed infants who have prolonged feeding habits or with children whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in honey, sugar or syrup.

How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?

Never allow children to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, juice or other sweetened liquids.
Clean and massage the baby's gums to help establish healthy teeth and to aid in teething.
Wrap a moistened gauze square or washcloth around the finger and gently massage the gums and surrounding tissues once a day.
When brushing a child's teeth, use a soft toothbrush and a pea-shaped amount of fluoride toothpaste.
Take a child to the dentist for the first time when the child is between 12 and 18 months old.

How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?

Gradually dilute the bottle contents with water over 2-3 weeks.
Once that period is over, if you give a child a bottle, the only safe liquid to put in a bottle to prevent tooth decay is water.
Decrease the consumption of sugar, especially between meals.
Children should be weaned from the bottle as soon as they can drink from a cup.

Why should I be worried about baby bottle tooth decay?

If left untreated, pain and infection can result from tooth decay.
Severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted.
The child may develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth, and damaged adult teeth.

Reprinted with permission from the Academy of General Dentistry

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Health Tip:

Men: Pay Attention
to Your Bicycle Seat

Men who bike more than three hours a week should be aware that standard bicycle seats, ridden for extended periods, can cause temporary numbness and, in some, more serious problems, such as erectile dysfunction.

Such problems are caused by compression of an artery and a nerve connected to the penis. New seat designs to minimize compression are now available.
Other preventive measures you can incorporate:

change the position (height) of the seat
use a padded or wide seat
stand frequently on the pedals
frequently shift positions while riding
avoid significant time in the forward position
use the legs to absorb shocks when riding over bumps.