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Tooth decay in infants is called baby bottle tooth decay.  It often affects the upper front teeth and can destroy your child’s teeth.

Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when sugary liquids, such as breast milk, formula, and juice, are left clinging to teeth either for too long or too frequently.  Mouth bacteria use these sugars as food and produce acids that attack the teeth.  Each time your child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer.

How can you prevent it?
To prevent baby bottle tooth decay:

• Rub your baby’s gums with a damp washcloth after every feeding. 
• Begin brushing your child’s teeth when the first tooth starts coming in (this is called erupting) with water or NON-fluoridated toothpaste, and continue to clean the gums. 
• Begin flossing when all teeth have erupted (usually between 2 and 2½ years of age).
  
• Never allow your child to fall asleep with a bottle of milk or any other sugar-containing liquid.
  
• Avoid nighttime breastfeeding after teeth begin to erupt.
  
• Avoid giving your child sugary liquids other than milk many times a day.
  
• If your child needs a bottle between regular meals or as a comfort in order to go to sleep, fill the bottle with water.
  
• Avoid giving your child sugar water or soft drinks.
  
• Ask your dentist about fluoride (a substance given to help prevent tooth decay).
  
• Make an appointment for your child to visit the dentist when the first tooth erupts.  Continue to visit the dentist regularly.

For more information, please visit:

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)
The AAPD’s web site provides dental health information in question-and-answer form.  Some of the topics it covers are dental care for your baby, visiting the dentist regularly, sucking thumbs and pacifiers, and diet.  This link takes you to the section that addresses baby bottle tooth decay.
http://www.aapd.org/publications/brochures/babycare.asp

The American Dental Association (ADA)
This web site covers many topics related to dental health.  To find a topic, you can browse its A-to-Z listing or search by category.  This link takes you to the section on baby bottle tooth decay.
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/decay_childhood.asp

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
This link takes you to the brochure, “A Healthy Mouth for Your Baby.”  Other topics covered include the importance of calcium, what sealants are and how they work, healthy snacking, and the tooth decay process.  Many brochures are also available in Spanish.  In addition to its brochures, the site includes a children’s coloring book that teaches the importance of calcium.
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health/pubs/hmouth/main.htm

The Kids Dentist
This site was created by a pediatric dentist in Illinois.  It covers most topics concerning children’s dental health in a friendly and personal manner.  This link takes you to the section on baby bottle tooth decay.
http://www.thekidsdds.com/decay.htm