Bottle use can lead to cavities and other health risks for children. Our Delta Children's dentists recommend that children give up baby bottles entirely by the time they are 12 months old, here's why.
Parents should begin weaning babies from bottles around the end of the first year and start getting their child comfortable drinking from cups. Your little one will become increasingly attached to their bottle the longer you wait.
Stopping Baby Bottle Use
Prolonged bottle feeding poses oral health risks for children, even if it seems harmless.
If your child is nursing on a bottle throughout the day it means your child's teeth are in regular contact with milk or juice, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities. One of the biggest causes of tooth decay is giving a baby a bedtime bottle. Sugars that naturally occur in milk and juice pool around your child's teeth and gums which then feeds plaque causing bacteria.
The development of your child's muscles, mouth, and palate are all affected by the way that babies suck on bottles. Long term baby bottle use can not only negatively affect your child's teeth but can also cause misalignment issues.
Avoiding Early Decay
Moving your child from a bottle to a regular cup as soon as possible is key to avoiding early tooth decay.
Teaching your child to take good care of their teeth will pave the way for good healthy adult teeth, whether or not your child still uses a bottle.
Be sure to clean your baby's gums after a feeding, even before you see any teeth. As soon as your child’s first tooth comes in, begin brushing with soft bristled toothbrush and child-safe toothpaste. Then, once your child has two teeth next to each other, you should begin flossing.