If children suck too much on the bottle, this can become a serious problem for the teeth. Doctors speak of bottle caries.
Many parents underestimate how early dental health begins – and how quickly the first damage can develop. Around ten to 16 percent of the three -year -olds already have caries. The upper incisors in particular are affected. These were usually damaged in baby age. Often by a permanent sugar on the bottle.
Sugar is the main cause of bottle caries
Already have babies tooth decay, doctors often speak of bottle caries, nipple bottle caries or also of the Nursing Bottle syndrome. It is caused by constant sucking on the bottle. This is particularly problematic when it is filled with sugar -containing liquids such as sweetened tea, fruit juices or milk. The continuous contact with sugar promotes the growth of bacteria that produce acids and attack the enamel. This process can begin as soon as your baby gets the first milk tooth.
For most children, teething follows a similar scheme. First, the lower and upper incisors break through, which is why they are particularly often affected by bottle caries. Good documentation of tooth growth can be important for the pediatrician. This dental calendar from Hallo-eltern.de-which you can download free of charge-helps to keep an overview.
Dental calendar for babies for download
When does which tooth come? With this tooth calendar, the tooth development of children can be perfectly documented. Download the PDF for free down here.
Parents recognize bottle caries by this
Initially, white or brownish spots show up on the upper incisors. If left untreated, this can lead to pain, infections and ultimately to loss of milk teeth. Since milk teeth are placeholders for the permanent teeth, their premature loss can have long -term consequences for the child. Malfunctions of the permanent teeth can occur and even language development can suffer. Because the teeth support loud and words. If the milk teeth are missing too early, this disturbs the pronunciation.
Prevention of bottle caries
In order to protect your child from bottle caries, parents should note the following:
- Avoid sugar -containing drinks: Prefer to your child water or unsweetened tea in the bottle.
- No bottle to fall asleep: Get used to getting used to falling asleep without a bottle to avoid permanent contact with sugar. Since the reduced flow flow affects the self -cleaning of the teeth during sleep, this point is particularly important.
- Early dental care: Start brushing your teeth as soon as the first tooth appears and use a soft toothbrush and children’s toothpaste containing fluoride.
- Regular visits to the dentist: Plan control appointments at the dentist at an early stage to monitor your child’s dental health.
- Get the bottle: In addition, it is advisable to gradually disconnect the nucky bottle after the first year of life and get your child used to drinking from a cup.
A persistent problem is that children’s products are often added to sugar. This is not always immediately apparent for parents. For example, manufacturers were allowed to sell sweetened teas for infants and children until the beginning of 2021 – without labeling. In the meantime, a corresponding regulation of the German Bundestag appliesthat prohibits the addition of sugar in infant and toddler teas. This also includes the sweetness with honey, fruit juice (concentrate), malt extract or other syrups or thick juices obtained from vegetable raw materials.
This is still an issue in other countries. The Swiss non -governmental organization Public Eye, in cooperation with the International Action Network for Infant Food (IBFAN), only revealed a year ago that Nestlé sells its infant milk in emerging countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Ethiopia and Thailand with large quantities of sugar that were added.
Through such practices, parents can also harm their children unconsciously. You should therefore take the dental health of your children all the more seriously. With conscious nutrition, consistent dental care and regular dentist visits, (bottles) caries can be effectively prevented.
Dental calendar for babies
The tooth development is different for every child – some get their first teeth at four months, others only with one year. Many parents then ask themselves: When does which tooth come and how do I keep an overview? A dental calendar can be a nice help here: it documents the order of the tooth breakthrough and at the same time offers space for personal notes about the tooth development of your child. With the free dental calendar for babies for download you always have an overview.
