Nursing bottle caries are also known as nursing caries, baby bottle caries, or bottle tooth decay. It is seen in babies and toddlers, who often go to sleep with bottles filled with milk or juice, other than water. It can also be seen in babies who fall asleep while breastfeeding. When the sugar from the drinks sticks to the surface of the teeth and gums, it can lead to tooth decay.
The best way to prevent baby bottle tooth decay is to protect a child’s teeth by reducing their consumption of sugary beverages and their use of pacifiers for an extended period of time.
Symptoms of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
The symptoms of baby bottle tooth decay are:
- White spots on the surface of the tooth
- Visible brown or black spots on the tooth
- Swollen and bleeding gums
- Fever and infection
Preventive measures
The following are the preventive measures for baby bottle tooth decay:
- Avoid the child falling asleep with a feeding bottle
- Stop bottle feeding at night time
- Start early dental care for gums and teeth
- Regular dental visits
- Add fluoride supplements as recommended by a doctor
