Drs. Goldfarb and Goldfarb
617-277-1112
ggdental@aol.com
Dental Conditions
Infant Tooth Decay
Bottle syndrome, or early childhood caries, is the severe decay of baby teeth caused by the constant presence of milk, formula or juice in a child's mouth.
Bottle syndrome can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Every time a child drinks anything containing sugar, bacteria in the mouth produce acids that attack the tooth enamel for at least thirty minutes.
The most common source of sugar is a bottle left in the child's mouth for long periods, especially at night or during naps. What most people don't realize is that even milk and unsweetened fruit juices contain sugar, lactose and fructose.
By switching to a pacifier or a bottle of plain water at these times, and by gently cleaning your child's teeth after she eats, you can avoid bottle syndrome and the damage and suffering it causes.