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Parents raising a young baby may feel like they wouldn't have to worry about cavities or dental decay. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Baby bottle tooth decay is a real problem that Dr. Peter Brusco sees very often. Understanding this problem and how your family dentist Kinnelon, NJ, can help is critical for parents trying to avoid this common oral health issue.

What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay is a type of severe dental decay common among young infants and children. It can cause painful cavities throughout their baby teeth and even infections. If it spreads, it may even cause gingivitis and cause a young child to lose teeth before they are ready.

Understanding the direct causes of this problem can help parents better prevent it. And working with an experienced pediatric dentist can help you avoid severe repercussions to your child's overall health and well-being.

How Does Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Develop?

This type of persistent decay is usually the result of parents not correctly understanding how to feed their children. Your family dentist in Kinnelon, NJ, see this decay frequently caused by problems like:

  • Heavily sugared drinks that a baby bottle keeps on the surface of a child's teeth
  • Frequent use of a bottle as a pacifier to calm an upset child
  • Spreading bacteria from the mother's mouth to the child's through shared utensils 
  • Poor dental care on the child's young teeth by an unprepared parent

Thankfully, all of these issues are easy to prevent if you just change a few behaviors. You can provide your young ones with the care they need and minimize problematic oral health issues.

Can You Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

A few ways that you can avoid baby bottle tooth decay include:

  • Minimize sugary drinks for your baby
  • Don't use a bottle as a pacifier
  • Rarely share food utensils or a toothbrush with your child
  • Clean your baby's teeth daily with a baby toothbrush or damp washcloth and a tiny amount of child-friendly toothpaste

Help is Available For Your Child

To care for your baby's teeth, you need to work with your family dentist in Kinnelon, NJ. Call Dr. Brusco at (973) 838-5862 to learn more about how we can help.