Pennsylvania Dental Association: Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

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HARRISBURG, Fa., June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Baby bottles emblazoned with soft drink logos are among the latest fad items selling in discount and toy stores across the country. Members of the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) and other health-care professionals are concerned that parents and caregivers will be encouraged to give infants soft drinks in these bottles, increasing the likelihood of baby bottle tooth decay.

Baby bottle tooth decay is a condition that can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child. It is the result of teeth being exposed for long periods of time to liquids containing sugars. Sugars are used by bacteria in the mouth as an energy source. In the process, the bacteria produce acids which lead to cavities over time.

Many sweet liquids cause these problems, including milk, formula and fruit juices. And it's not just what is in a child's bottle that causes decay, but how often and for how long. Giving a child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day is not a good thing. Allowing the child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can also harm the child's teeth.

To help keep baby bottle tooth decay from affecting your child, the FDA encourages parents and other caregivers to follow these tips:

• After each feeding, wipe the baby's gums with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad. Begin brushing the child's teeth when the first tooth appears. Clean and massage gums in areas that remain toothless, and begin flossing when all the baby teeth have come in.
  
  
• Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, fruit juice or sweetened liquids. If your child needs a comforter between regular feedings, at night, or during naps, fill a bottle with cool water or give the child a clean pacifier recommended by your dentist or physician. Never give your child a pacifier dipped in any sweet liquid and always avoid filling your child's bottle with liquids such as sugar water and soft drinks.
  
  
• If your local water supply does not contain fluoride, ask your dentist how your child should get it.
  
  
• Start dental visits by the child's first birthday. Make visits regularly. If you think your child has dental problems, take the child to the dentist as soon as possible.
  
  

The 6,300 members of the Pennsylvania Dental Association serve the public by providing preventive and comprehensive dental care.

CONTACT: Rob Pugliese, Public Relations Coordinator of the Pennsylvania Dental Association, 717-234-5941