Baby teeth can get cavities as soon as they begin erupting into the mouth. It is vital to do everything you can to prevent cavities in your baby’s teeth.
When your baby consumes any sugar, even natural sugars from milk, the natural oral bacteria in their mouth eat away at those sugars and turn them into acid, which then attacks the teeth. These attacks on the teeth will eventually cause the enamel to break down and lead to cavities. The more frequently these acid attacks happen, the more susceptible to cavities your baby will be. The most crucial factors involved in cavity risk are the amount of sugar consumed and the frequency of exposure to sugar. Baby bottle tooth decay most often occurs in the upper front teeth because this is where the milk passes by, but it can also affect the bottom and back teeth. Cavities look like a brown or stained area and may be associated with chipping. Here are several tips when it comes to protecting your baby from cavities.
Bacteria can be passed from mother to baby by transfer of saliva. This means that if a mother passes a utensil she put in her mouth to her baby or sucks a pacifier before giving it to her baby, she is passing her cavity-causing bacteria to her baby and increasing the risk for cavities.