10 easy tips on how to avoid baby bottle tooth decay

10th July 2017

Brush as soon as the first tooth emerge. From 3-4 months you can still clean by massaging your baby’s gums by wrapping around your finger a clean dampened muslin cloth. Helps with teething too!
Only give your child milk, formula or water in their bottle.
Infants should finish their bedtime and nap time bottles before going to bed. Try not to let them sleep with the bottle still in their mouths.
Offer a cup of water or a piece of cheese after any sweetened drinks and limit such drinks for during meal times.
Avoid transferring oral bacteria from your mouth to your child’s by licking their spoons, bottle teats, dummies/ pacifiers.
If your child uses a pacifier/dummy do not dip it in honey or anything sweet as this will cause tooth decay.
Encourage your child to drink from a cup by their first birthday.
Avoid constant snacking and encourage healthy eating habits.
Help them brush until age four at least till they have proper hand skills and supervise brushing until they are 6-7 years old.
Last but most important, make it fun for your little one and choose a child-friendly dentist who understands how to make them feel at ease and ensure a lifetime of happy smiles.