Diseases

Nursing Bottle Syndrome

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Baby bottle tooth syndrome is the name given to tooth decay caused by using ababy bottle as a sleep aid. When a child falls asleep with a bottle full of milk or juice, some of the liquid from the bottle pools behind the sleeping child's front teeth.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of more severe decay include:

brown or black spots on the teeth.
bleeding or swollen gums.
fever, swelling or irritability, which could indicate infection.
bad breath.

CAUSES

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas and other sweetened drinks. The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant's teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria that cause plaque.