2. Learning Objective After reviewing this slides and listening to the audio, a student will be able to state in writing 3 ways to prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. 2
3. What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Severe decay of baby teeth 3
4. Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Preventable Cause: baby’s/toddler’s teeth exposed to sugary substances, juices, formula for prolonged periods 4
5. How Can You Prevent Baby Bottle Tooth Decay? Prevention: Only water in a bottle or give a pacifier at bed/naptime 5
7. How Else Can You Prevent BBTD? Start giving a baby a cup to use and practice with around 6 months. Also assist your baby with the cup so he gets used to drinking from something else besides a bottle. The cup can be empty or have a very small amount of water or formula in it for baby to practice with. Wean infant/toddler from the bottle around 12-14 months 7
8. Preschoolers Preschoolers can manage most of their own personal care, but they may still need some adult assistance. Good dental hygiene is important for all children once they have teeth. A baby’s gum and teeth can be wiped with a damp cloth to remove food particles Parents should brush a toddlers teeth at least once a day. 8
9. Summary: Baby Bottle Tooth Decay Prevention Prevention: Put a baby to bed/nap with a bottle of water or a pacifier. Start giving a baby a cup to use and practice with around 6 months. Wean infant/toddler from the bottle around 12-14 months 3. Also, brush your toddlers teeth at least twice a day. 9
10. BBTD: More Information For more information on BBTD, visit the following website: See how a pediatric dentist responds to a question from a mother of a two year old that has a lot of dental caries. (Retrieved June 26, 2011 from http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=baby%20bottle%20tooth%20decay%20graphic. 10
Notas do Editor
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay – hopefully in your work with children you will not see children suffering from Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. But all parents and caretakers of children should be aware of what it is and how to prevent it.
BBTD is 100% preventable. No baby needs to have decaying teeth. What is the cause of BBTD? Putting a child to bed or down for a nap with a bottle of milk, juice, or a sugary drink like Kool Aid. I have even heard that some grandparents like to put molasses in the bottle of milk which would create a sugary, sticky substance that could stick to the child’s teeth. This is an image of a child suffering from BBTD. You can see the almost missing upper teeth. This affects a child’s ability to talk and communicate as they have trouble making sounds like the “th” sound. It also can be quite painful for the child.
The first measure of prevention is putting a child to bed with a bottle of water or with a pacifier. Then there is no sugary substance to decay the baby teeth while the baby is sleeping.
Please review the first video on BBY tooth decay that you provide you guidance on how it can be prevented.
A second preventive measure is introducing a cup early helps your child get used to drinking from a cup and not a bottle. It is recommended a cup be introduced around 6 months so a baby can learn how to hold a cup, how to bring a cup to their mouth and how to practice drinking very small amounts of liquids from a cup. Then by 12 or 14 months the infant can be weaned from the bottle and only give a cup to drink from.
Besides not putting a child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice, parents can also help a child keep their teeth clean. A baby’s gum and teeth can be wiped with a soft, damp cloth to remove any food particles. Parents can also brush a toddler’s teeth twice a day as a toddler doesn’t yet have the ability to do a very good job brushing their own teeth. Before age two, you should not use toothpaste with fluoride as the child is not yet able to spit out the toothpaste.
