Preventing Tooth Decay in Infants

 Dr. Greene’s Answer:

The bottle-feeding that comforts and nourishes your baby can also cause severe tooth decay. Most parents I talk to don’t know how to care for their babies’ teeth.

Unlike adult cavities, which are usually hidden from view, baby tooth decay strikes the most visible portion of the front teeth. But parents are lulled into complacency because during the months the teeth are gradually weakening, the damage is invisible. Once the protective tooth enamel has been breached, the ugly process of decay accelerates. Thankfully, this problem can be easily prevented.

What nourishes your baby also nourishes the normal bacteria that live in your baby’s mouth. These bacteria turn the sugars found in formulas, milks, and juices into acids strong enough to etch the enamel of the teeth if there is prolonged contact.

The clear saliva you see from time to time drooling from your baby’s mouth helps to prevent lengthy exposure to tooth-damaging acids. Enzymes in the saliva digest the sugars in milks and juices into safe forms that your baby can use. Also, the swishing of the saliva in the mouth actively washes the teeth.

The problem comes at that wonderful moment when a baby falls asleep. Saliva production plummets. Swallowing decreases. And any liquids still in the mouth will pool next to the teeth, slowly dissolving the enamel.

Moving the feeding time forward so that your baby is awake for even fifteen minutes after finishing can significantly protect the teeth. This is easy advice to give, but in some families it can be very difficult to follow.

Some babies enjoy the comfort of sucking to soothe themselves to sleep. For them, an orthodontic pacifier or a bottle of water may soothe them immediately before drifting off.

But for many babies, the act of feeding is the only way they become drowsy enough to slip off to sleep. Gently brushing the teeth becomes extremely important for these children. If the cleaning is done during deep sleep (when the baby is limp and not moving), the child is unlikely to awaken, and the teeth are rescued from hours of decay. This should be done whenever a child regularly falls asleep within 15 minutes of feeding.

Baby bottle tooth decay can also occur while awake if a child is allowed to walk around with a bottle. The American Academy of Pediatrics wisely recommends that parents only give bottles during feedings or when administering medications, and that bottles not be used as pacifiers. It’s best to avoid putting juice or sweetened beverages in bottles.

Tooth decay may not seem like a big deal, but these are the only teeth your baby will have during the years when much of the personality and self-image are formed. And a feisty 2-year-old is much likelier to cooperate with good habits begun as a baby.

I applaud the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recommendation to start cleaning babies’ teeth at least once a day as soon as the teeth come in – if not before! Gently cleaning your baby’s gums can help prevent gum disease later on and can help soothe your baby’s gums while teething. Once the teeth come in, use a tiny dab of fluoride-free baby tooth cleanser on a soft infant toothbrush or on some soft gauze.

I also applaud the American Academy of Pediatrics for recommending that children see a dentist trained in providing care to infants and children 6 months after their first tooth comes in or by 12 months of age – not for teeth cleaning, but to be sure the teeth are normal.

Cleaning your baby’s teeth is a practical expression of your love. Children with healthy teeth can chew food easily, learn to speak clearly, and smile with confidence at you and at the world.