What Causes Baby Teeth to Rot?

When parents look at the cherub-like face of their babies and toddlers, they’re surprised to learn that baby teeth can rot just like an adult’s teeth. As a matter of fact, baby teeth can rot faster and more dramatically than an adult’s. It seems surreal to watch as your child’s newly formed teeth, white as the driven snow, turn brown.

What’s the Underlying Factor?

The thing is, baby teeth don’t have the enamel strength that adults have. They simply aren’t as resilient, and as such, are more prone to anything that comes into contact with them. This is why pediatric dentists in Bellbrook, OH are so keen to warn parents about what’s commonly called bottle rot. It’s a colloquial term for the vulnerability that bottle-feeding babies have to teeth rot.

Bad Bottle Habits

Letting a kid go to bed with a bottle might seem like a good way to keep them happy, but if the bottle has anything sweet in it, it’s bad news for their teeth. The sugar in the liquid just sits there all night, giving bacteria a long, uninterrupted party where they can produce those harmful acids.

Sugary Culprits

A lot of the problem simple comes down to sugar. Juices milk, and formula are the usual suspects. Even though things like apple juice contain vitamins, they also contain fructose, which is just as bad as refined sugar. When kids drink these sugary fluids, bacteria in their mouths get to work breaking down the sugar, releasing acids that can eat away at tooth enamel. This process can lead to cavities, which dentists call “early childhood caries.”

Not Enough Brushing

Inadequate oral hygiene can contribute significantly to this problem. The teeth of infants and toddlers are often not brushed as frequently or as thoroughly as they should be, if at all. The absence of this crucial cleaning allows plaque—a film of bacteria—to build upon the teeth and further encourages decay.

Preventing decay in baby teeth is important, not only for maintaining the child’s current oral health, but also for ensuring the proper development and alignment of permanent teeth in the future. Contact your family dentist in Bellbrook, OH for tips on how to keep baby teeth healthy.