Bottle decay is an infection that occurs in children as a result of frequent consumption of sugary drinks and poor oral hygiene habits, which promotes the proliferation of microorganisms and, consequently, the development of cavities, which can affect all of the child’s teeth. and cause pain and changes in speech and chewing.
Although many believe that because the child does not have a tooth, there is no risk of developing cavities, microorganisms can remain in the gums and delay the development of the teeth. Therefore, the prevention of cavities begins even before the first teeth are born, it is important that the child is accompanied by a pediatric dentist.
- If it turns out that the child is starting to have cavities.
- It is recommended to go to the pediatric dentist to start the appropriate treatment for the elimination of cavities.
- Thus preventing the development of the teeth and therefore speech.
- The dentist may also indicate the use of fluorinated toothpaste to promote dental remineralization.
It is also recommended to improve the child’s oral hygiene habits by advising him or her to clean his or her mouth after each intake or to give a bottle to the baby with a gauze or layer of damp cloth in water or in a substance indicated by the pediatric dentist, which should be applied to the gums, tongue and palate.
In addition, it is recommended that the child not be given sugary juice or milk, especially at night, and should avoid lying with the bottle, as it is possible to prevent the child from asleep and brushing his or her teeth.
Bottle decay can pose a risk to the baby, as the presence of cavities and deterioration of baby teeth can have consequences not only during the baby’s development but also in adulthood. Therefore, some of the risks of cavities in bottles are:
In addition, cavity-related bacteria can also trigger a very large inflammatory process and promote tooth loss, interfere with the development of permanent teeth and, in some cases, reach the bloodstream, which is severe and can pose a risk to the child.
Bottle cavities are mainly caused by a lack of hygiene of the baby’s mouth after feeding, either through breastfeeding or through liquids donated in the bottle, such as juices, milk or infant formula, for example.
It is common for babies to sleep during feeding or sleep with bottles, keeping the rest of the milk in their mouths during sleep and promoting the proliferation of microorganisms, causing cavities and increasing the risk of other oral infections. Understand how cavities form.