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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Packing Bag Lunches Safely

If you pack lunches for your child to take to school, be careful that you do not accidentally expose them to foodborne illness.

Bagged lunches, especially those containing perishable foods, need to be packed and handled properly in order to keep the food safe. In general, perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. If left out too long, the temperature of the food can enter the danger zone where bacteria grow most rapidly, which is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Below are some tips to help families pack bagged lunches safely:

Pack foods that are nonperishable and won't require refrigeration.
If you do pack perishable foods such as luncheon meats or prepackaged cheese and crackers, include a frozen gel pack or a frozen juice carton with the food in an insulated lunch bag or box.
Pack only the amount of perishable food that your child can eat at lunch.
Preparing lunches the night before and storing them in the refrigerator until you pack your child's lunchbox in the morning can help keep food cold longer the next day.
Don't reuse packaging materials such as paper or plastic bags, aluminum foil, etc. as they can contaminate other foods and cause foodborne illness. Have your child discard all used food packaging and paper bags after lunch.

Before eating lunch or snacks at school, make sure your child washes his or her hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If your child's school does not have a handwashing program in place, encourage them to adopt a such a program, as handwashing is one of the best ways kids and parents can protect health and stop the spread of germs.