By Dr. Crystal Edmister, D.D.S.
For Variety

BABY Bottle Tooth Decay, or BBTD, also known as Early Childhood Caries, or cavities, is unfortunately a common disease on the island of Saipan.
As soon as a baby’s first teeth appear — usually by the age of six months or so — the child is susceptible to tooth decay. BBTD can destroy the teeth and most often occurs in the upper front teeth although other teeth may be affected. In some instances, infants and toddlers have experienced severe tooth decay that has resulted in a visit to the dentist to receive dental restorations or extractions.
What causes Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
Everyone has bacteria and plaque in their mouths. Decay occurs when liquids that have sugars in them, including: breast milk, formula, juice, sports drinks, sweet tea or soda are given to the child. Cavities form when sugar from these liquids is left clinging to an infant’s teeth for a long period of time. The problem of BBTD occurs when bacteria that live in the mouth start to use sugars eaten by the child as food. This produces acid. This acid made by the bacteria can eat through teeth if not removed regularly. Each time your child drinks these liquids acids attack the teeth. After many attacks, the teeth will start to decay.
However, it’s not just what you put in your child’s bottle or cup that causes tooth decay. How often the child is given sweet liquids and for how long a time also plays a crucial roll in causing BBTD. Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day exposes bacteria in the mouth to sugars allowing the bacteria to produce acid and decay the teeth all day long. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle filled with anything except water during naps or at night can also harm the child’s teeth and cause BBTD. Lastly, allowing a child to fall asleep while nursing can cause BBTD.
Why are baby teeth so important?
First, tooth decay can lead to pain and infections if not addressed and treated early. Preventing cavities and decay will alleviate having to deal with these serious consequences. Sometimes severely decayed teeth or teeth causing an infection have to be removed. However, removing baby teeth early is not only very difficult and traumatic for the child but can have some serious ramifications. Such as having no teeth to chew on, struggling in speech and word formation, and crowding of the permanent teeth when they eventually come in. In addition, children under five years old are typically not able to handle dental work, so many times the only option is to put the child to sleep for the needed treatment.
How can Baby Bottle Tooth Decay be prevented?
Here are some tips for healthy teeth and a beautiful smile:
• Even before the baby teeth come in at six months of age, the parent can wipe the inside of the baby’s mouth with a wet washcloth to help remove the bacterial film that’s formed after feeding. This also helps with teething. Cleaning the mouth at an early age will help get your child used to you cleaning their teeth. It is important to clean the mouth or teeth after each feeding or meal to prevent bacterial acid from causing tooth decay.
• An adult should clean a child’s teeth at least once a day preferably before bed time. A parent can start using a toothbrush when the child’s back teeth are coming in around the age of nine months to one year old. A parent should always follow up the child’s brushing attempt by brushing the child’s teeth themselves. A child may start to use toothpaste with fluoride around the age of five years old or when the child is able to spit out the toothpaste and not swallow it.
• It is important to incorporate fluoride into your child’s diet. Chewable fluoride tablets or liquid should be given to a child starting at the age of six months and continuing until the child is 13 years old.
• Do not let a baby sleep with breast milk, formula, milk or sugary drink in their bottle. Putting a child down with water in the bottle is fine and will not cause tooth decay. Start to use a cup instead of a bottle soon after the baby can sit up by themselves.
• Delay introduction of sweets to your child as long as possible. Give your child fruit instead of candy. Help your child by giving them no more than one sweet snack or sweet drink per day. If you are going to give your child a sweet snack, give it to them at meal times. It is important that a child does not eat and drink sweets all day long.
• It’s a good idea to have your child visit the dentist when they have reached one year of age to make sure their baby teeth are developing properly.
The good news is that Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is preventable. You can do something about it! Help your child learn how to have a healthy and beautiful smile! In celebration of February being Children’s Dental Health Month, the Seventh-day Adventist Clinic is offering free children’s exams. Show your child you care. Call for your appointment today at 234-6323.