Infant and Baby Needs

You’ve probably heard not to let your baby fall asleep with a bottle in her mouth but have you learned why? Giving your baby a bottle with formula, milk, or juice as she falls asleep will lead to tooth decay.

How? The liquids that you baby is drinking have sugars in them that will turn to acids in your baby’s mouth and damage the delicate enamel of his teeth. This is the beginning of  cavities, tooth decay and gum disease.

What if my baby is breastfed? Yes if your baby is breastfed they are less likely to bet bottle tooth decay but if they are nursing in the night and you are putting them to bed right after a feed, leftover milk in the mouth is still a hazard to your baby’s delicate, growing teeth.

What can I do? Don’t let your baby go to bed with a bottle. If your baby must suck on something to get to sleep try using a pacifier instead.

Slowly wean your baby off the bottle diluting the milk until it’s just water.

Keep tabs on your baby’s teeth. Take them to a pediatric dentist. Watch the teeth for chalky white spots.

Get into the habit of brushing your baby’s teeth. Even if there are only two. Brush in the morning and before bed as part of baby’s bedtime routine.

Keep your baby’s pacifier clean also. Don’t dip it in sugar or even in your own mouth.

Get an Infant ToothBrush .