Every time your child consumes sugary liquids, bacteria in their mouth consume the sugar and produce acid byproducts. This acid attacks their baby teeth and after continuing attacks, their teeth may decay. This is commonly referred to as baby bottle syndrome. Liquids that contribute to this condition include milk, formula, soda, fruit juices, and any other sweetened drinks.

The upper front teeth are most likely to be damaged by this condition. This is because they are some of the first teeth to erupt and have the longest exposure time to sugars in the bottle. Lower front teeth are usually protected by the tongue as the child sucks on the breast or nipple of the bottle. If your child needs to go to bed with a bottle, we recommend you fill their bottle with water. To remove any plaque after they have been fed, it is also a good practice to wipe your child’s teeth and gums with a damp cloth. This can help prevent tooth decay