Many parents don’t give a second thought to sending their young ones to bed with a bottle or a sippy cup. The fact is, a child going to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice often leads to a serious disorder. Early childhood caries, often referred to as baby bottle decay, or bottle rot, occurs when infants and toddlers develop tooth decay. Thankfully, following simple preventive measures helps children avoid developing cavities. In today’s blog, your Livingston children’s dentists, Drs. David and Gary Silverstrom, discuss prevention of, and treatment for, nursing bottle caries.
Restoring Your Child’s Smile
Despite the fact that your child’s primary teeth will eventually fall out on their own, treating tooth decay remains essential to protecting their health. Untreatedcavities often lead to painful infection and toothaches. Once infection sets in, it can spread to other teeth, and even reach the permanent teeth below the gum line. Soon, a tooth may become degraded to the point that extraction is necessary. Baby teeth also help guide permanent teeth into their correct place. When a primary tooth is lost prematurely the permanent teeth can come in crooked, requiring extensive orthodontics in the future.
At The Silverstrom Group, Drs. David and Gary Silverstrom provide a calm, child-friendly atmosphere. We educate your child on proper dental maintenance, and provide natural-looking tooth restoration to repair decay and preserve their teeth.
Preventing Baby Bottle Decay
The best method of protecting your child’s teeth from bottle rot is with simple prevention. Remember, once the first baby tooth erupts parents should bring their child to Dr. David or Gary Silverstrom. Your Livingston children’s dentists can ensure their teeth are coming in properly, and educate parents on providing good oral care to safeguard their child’s smile. Avoid letting your child go to bed or nap with a bottle or sippy cup containing anything other than water. During sleep, saliva production decreases, and bacteria feed on the sugars coating the teeth. As bacteria spreads, oral acid levels elevate, weakening enamel and leaving teeth vulnerable to tooth decay.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Livingston Dentists
Are your children experiencing toothaches that may be related to nursing bottle caries? Schedule a consultation with your Livingston dentists today for a diagnosis and to discuss treatment. Contact The Silverstrom Group in Livingston, New Jersey by calling (973) 797-9345. The Silverstrom Group is located at 580 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston, New Jersey.
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