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Home › Articles › Toddlers › A Hard Habit to Break

A Hard Habit to Break

Part One

Bring on the Cup

By April E. Clark

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Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

For people of all ages, a visit to the dentist rarely evokes excitement and anticipation. Just imagine being a 3-year-old with a mouth full of cavities.

This is one situation the American Dental Association (ADA) would like to prevent. The ADA and other organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the Academy of General Dentistry are on a mission to educate the public on a condition called early childhood caries (cavities) or baby bottle tooth decay.

In babies, incoming teeth can become susceptible to deterioration, as milk or juice remains around their teeth during a nap or during the night.

Here, frequently asked questions about this condition are answered by the ADA:

What is baby bottle tooth decay?
Decay in infants and children is called baby bottle tooth decay. It can destroy the teeth and most often occurs in the upper front teeth. But other teeth may also be affected.

What causes baby bottle tooth decay?
Decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given and are left clinging to an infant's teeth for long periods. Many sweet liquids cause problems, including milk, formula and fruit juice. Bacteria in the mouth use these sugars as food. They then produce acids that attack the teeth. Each time a child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. After many attacks, the teeth can decay.

It's not just what you put in a child's bottle that causes decay, but how often – and for how long a time. Giving a child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day isn't a good idea. Allowing a child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can also harm the child's teeth.

Why are baby teeth important?
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