How Bottles Can Damage Your Child's Teeth Past Age One
Posted on 4/15/2020 by Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry
If your little one is still drinking from a bottle and is over the age of one, there's a chance that they may be doing unnecessary harm to their teeth. While bottles are great for infants, once teeth start to come in, having something in the mouth so often can cause some issues. If you've got a small child who has started having their teeth come in, here are some of the ways that bottles do more harm than good.
They Can Cause Tooth Decay
Using bottles excessively can actually cause tooth decay. This decay, called early childhood caries, is usually caused by children going to sleep with a bottle or being allowed to suck on the bottle throughout the entire day. If you put juice or anything else sugary in the bottle, it makes it even worse, but milk or plain water can also actually cause this issue. Do your best to break the bottle habit by age one so this doesn't become an issue.
They Cause Teeth Alignment Issues
Another problem with babies frequently using bottles is that it can cause their teeth to come in misaligned. Baby teeth may seem like they're not that important, but if they come in misaligned, it can cause issues with the eruption of your baby's permanent teeth.
How Can You Prevent This?
The best way of preventing tooth decay in little ones is to take away the bottle when you put them down for a nap. Always feed your baby while holding them, and make sure you clean your little one's gums after they're done eating. If your baby does need something to suck on to fall asleep, use a clean pacifier. However, you should be careful even with this as sucking on a pacifier can also cause some teeth alignment problems.
If you have any questions about your little one's teeth or their overall oral health, don't hesitate to give us a call.
Blog - Wichita, KS • Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry At Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Healy created this informative blog to assist with educating the community about various topics of pediatric dentistry. Tiny Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, 3933 N. Maize Road, Suite 200 Wichita, KS 67101 • (316) 202-9629 • tinyteethwichita.com • 10/3/2024 • Page Keywords: Pediatric Dentist Wichita KS •
If your little one is still drinking from a bottle and is over the age of one, there's a chance that they may be doing unnecessary harm to their teeth. While bottles are great for infants, once teeth start to come in, having something in the mouth so often can cause some issues. If you've got a small child who has started having their teeth come in, here are some of the ways that bottles do more harm than good.
