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From a dental point of view, nursing babies from bottles can cause
problems. Dentally-speaking - what's the worst thing you can do to a
baby? Stick him in his crib with a bottle at nap time and let him fall
asleep with the bottle in his mouth. Milk or juice in the mouth and on the teeth
turns to acid and causes teeth to break down rapidly. Many babies who
sleep with a baby bottle develop severe tooth decay, often in their front
teeth. The problem is not the bottle but what's in it. The sugar in the milk,
formula, or fruit juices causes the decay. Sometimes, these teeth become
so decayed they cause severe pain and may break off or have to be pulled.
During the day, the baby swallows these drinks quickly, so there is
no damage to the teeth. But during sleep, the liquid pools behind the baby's
teeth and keeps them bathed in sugar for hours.
One solution is to give baby the last feeding before bedtime. If your
baby is still using a bottle when his teeth begin to appear, let him use it for
short periods of time awake or sitting up. If he is using a bottle as a
pacifier. put water in the bottle. |
