What is baby bottle (nursing bottle) caries?
Baby bottle caries is one of the most common cause of Early Childhood Caries. Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas and other sweetened drinks.
The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant's teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria in plaque. Every time a child consumes a sugary liquid, acid produced by these bacteria attack the teeth and gums. After numerous attacks, tooth decay can begin.
The condition also is associated with breast-fed infants who have prolonged feeding habits or with children whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in honey, sugar or syrup. The sweet fluids left in the mouth while the infant is sleeping increase the chances of cavities.
Stages of Early Childhood Caries
Why should I be worried about baby bottle tooth decay?
Giving an infant a sugary drink at nap or nighttime is harmful because during sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sugary liquids to linger on the child's teeth for an extended period of time. If left untreated, decay can result, which can cause pain and infection. Severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted. If teeth are infected or lost too early due to baby bottle tooth decay, your child may develop poor eating habits, speech problems, crooked teeth and damaged adult teeth. Healthy baby teeth will usually result in healthy permanent teeth.
Some kids will have to undergo removal of multiple teeth in surgery operating theater. I'm sure as parents, you wouldn't like to see your kids to suffer with this.
How can I prevent baby bottle tooth decay?
Never allow a child to fall asleep with a bottle containing milk, formula, juice or other sweetened liquids. Clean and massage the baby's gums to help establish healthy teeth and to aid in teething. Wrap a moistened gauze square or washcloth around the finger and gently massage the gums and gingival tissues. This should be done after every feeding.
Start brushing your baby teeth after they get their first tooth. When brushing a child's teeth, use a soft toothbrush and water. If you are considering using toothpaste before your child's second birthday, ask your dentist first.
Bring your baby to dentist on his first birthday! "First visit by first birthday."
How to make changes in my child's diet in order to help prevent baby bottle tooth decay?
- Gradually dilute the bottle contents with water over a period of two to three weeks.
- Once that period is over, if you give a child a bottle, fill it with water or give the child a clean pacifier recommended by a dentist. The only safe liquid to put in a bottle to prevent baby bottle tooth decay is water.
- Decrease consumption of sugar, especially between meals.
- Children should be avoid from the bottle as soon as they can drink from a cup, usually by their first birthday, but the bottle should not be taken away too soon, since the sucking motion aids in the development of facial muscles, as well as the tongue.
什么是婴儿奶瓶性龋齿/蛀牙？
婴儿奶瓶性蛀牙是儿童早期性蛀牙(Early childhood caries)最常见的原因之一。婴儿奶瓶蛀牙是因为孩子的牙齿频繁及长期暴露在含有糖液体所造成的。这些液体如牛奶，配方，果汁，汽水和其他含糖饮料。液体中的l糖份，将提供养分给细菌菌斑。
每当一个孩子服食含糖液体时，细菌产生的酸将攻击及侵蚀牙齿及牙龈。经过无数次的攻击，蛀牙就可以开始发生了.
这种状况也常发生在长时间以母乳喂养的婴儿或经常将奶嘴沾上蜂蜜，糖或糖浆的婴儿。这些甜蜜液在婴儿睡觉时残留在口中，增加蛀牙的机会。
我为什么要担心婴儿奶瓶性蛀牙？
让婴儿在午睡或夜间睡时口里含糖饮料是有害的，因为在睡眠时，唾液流量将减少，使含糖液体流连于孩子的牙齿的时间较长。如果不清理，可导致牙齿被侵蚀及蛀牙。
这可引起您的宝宝牙齿疼痛和受感染。严重蛀牙可能需要被拔掉。如果因为婴儿奶瓶蛀牙 使牙齿受感染或太早被拔掉，你的孩子可能有发展不良的饮食习惯，言语问题，歪牙和损坏的成人牙齿。切记健康宝宝的牙齿通常都能拥有健康恒牙。
在一些严重的案例，有的孩子不得不接受在手术室里拔除多颗牙齿。本人看过不少这样的案例，觉得那些小孩都好可怜。所以我敢肯定，作为父母的你们都不希望看到自己的孩子受此痛苦。
如何防止婴儿奶瓶蛀牙？
"千万不要让孩子含着有牛奶,果汁或其他含糖液体的瓶子入睡"
记得清洁和按摩宝宝的牙床，以帮助建立健康的牙齿和牙周。每次喂食后将湿的纱布或毛巾绕在手指轻轻按摩牙龈和牙周组织。
当您的宝宝有了他们的第一颗牙齿后，记得开始刷宝宝的牙齿。刷孩子的牙齿时，可以用一个柔软的牙刷和水。如果您考虑在孩子的第二个生日之前使用的牙膏，请先问你的牙医意见。
记得在宝宝的第一个生日里送他们一个礼物那就是带宝宝去牙科诊所游乐见牙医！
“第一个生日,第一次见牙医”
如何更改我的孩子的饮食习惯，以帮助防止婴儿奶瓶蛀牙？
在两到三个星期内逐步淡化奶粉的含量。（减少奶粉，增加水含量）
两三个星期结束后，如果你仍然给孩子使用奶瓶，记得只可以给开水而不是牛奶。记得唯一能防止婴儿奶瓶性蛀牙的饮料是水。
减少糖的摄取，特别是在主餐之间。只要孩子可以从一个杯子喝水后，就应该鼓励他们不要再使用奶瓶。但是奶瓶也不能太早停，因为它是能帮助面部肌肉以及舌头发展的吸吮运动辅助工具。
