Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

At the Upper East Side dental practice of Dr. Dallessandro, we are dedicated to helping parents maintain their children’s oral health. You’ve probably noticed that dental information for children tends to focus on tooth decay caused by sugar. That’s because cavities are the dental problem children most commonly suffer from, but those too young to take an active role in their own health commonly suffer from a decay pattern we call Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.

When babies suck milk or formula from a bottle, the residue tends to accumulate on the fronts of their front teeth. With no water to wash the residue away, the sugar remains stuck there until it is eaten by bacteria, creating plaque.

Preventing tooth decay always requires regular brushing, but preventing it in babies requires some extra precautions. Babies should only be given bottles at set times and should not be allowed to suck on them for hours, as this is how their teeth remain exposed to sugar for too long. They should be given water to drink, and should not be given even more sugary drinks, such as juice, until they are old enough to drink from cups.

Joseph S. Dallesandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit JosephDallessandroDDS.com, and fill out a contact sheet.