Baby-Bottle Tooth Decay

Babies who go to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice, or nurse at will while mom sleeps are more likely to develop tooth decay and ear infections. Sugars found in formula, milk or juice stays in contact with the teeth for a long time during the night causing the teeth to decay quickly. Remember that feeding time is feeding time and sleeping time is sleeping time. Although grandma may have put her baby in bed with a bottle, this is no longer recommended and is unsafe for your baby.

Some tips to avoid baby-bottle tooth decay:

• Never put your child to bed with a bottle.
• Stop nursing when your child is asleep or has stopped sucking on the bottle.
• Never let your child walk around using a bottle of milk or juice as a pacifier.
• Start to teach your child to drink from a cup at about 6 months of age. If you child is a "sipper" between meals, let them have only water in their sippy cup. If you give them milk or juice it will spoil their appetite and ruin their teeth. Plan to stop using a bottle by 12 to 14 months at the latest.