| Although the incidence of cavities has gone down | | | | are keen to learn new things, especially when |
| in the United States overall, it has gone up by 15.2 | | | | they see others around them doing it. Kids should |
| percent in children aged 2 to 5 since 1988, | | | | be weaned off bottles at 12 to 14 months of age. |
| according to a 2005 report by the Centers for | | | | Secondly, and most importantly, don't put your |
| Disease Control and Prevention. The reason for | | | | child to sleep with a bottle of formula milk or |
| this rise in caries (tooth decay) is simple: more | | | | some other sweet liquid. Instead, put your child to |
| and more, children are being exposed to sugary | | | | bed with a bottle of water. Water inside city limits |
| liquids such as milk, breast milk, formula, fruit juice | | | | often contains fluoride, which has been shown to |
| and other sweet liquids for a long period of time. | | | | help prevent tooth decay and makes teeth |
| The problem often occurs because parents give | | | | strong. However, residents who live in rural areas |
| their children bottles to put them to sleep. It's all | | | | rely on well water, which doesn't contain fluoride. |
| too easy to help your child off to sleep by leaving | | | | You should try to wean your child off night feeds; |
| them to suck on a bottle of formula milk or some | | | | this isn't always easy but gently perseverance will |
| other sugary liquid. But once the child is asleep, | | | | win the day. |
| they stop feeding. Instead the liquid stays in their | | | | Thirdly, it is never too early to start brushing your |
| mouth, coating gums and teeth with a warm | | | | child's teeth. Infant toothbrushes are readily. You |
| sugary substance that is the ideal breeding ground | | | | should only use water and never use fluoridated |
| for bacteria. This phenomenon is often called 'baby | | | | toothpaste until age 2 or 3 unless your dentist |
| bottle tooth decay'. | | | | says otherwise. Have your child brush after every |
| Children won't take responsibility for oral hygiene; | | | | meal or snack and floss daily. |
| it's up to parents. | | | | Bottle tooth decay is not a heredity disease and is |
| So, what can parents do to help their child avoid | | | | totally preventable. But remember, your child isn't |
| baby bottle tooth decay? | | | | going to take responsibility for their dental health, |
| First off, monitor drinking habits: Drinking juice | | | | that's your job. Sending your child off to sleep |
| from a bottle or sippy cup should be avoided to | | | | whilst sucking on a bottle of formula may seem |
| minimize prolonged sugar exposure. Instead, use a | | | | to be the easy option, but in the long run, you're |
| glass or cup to shorten consumption time. Most | | | | just heading for more problems. |
| children readily wean themselves off bottles; they | | | | |