Caring for your Kids’ Teeth

Oral health tips for parents who bottle feed their children

Even though your child’s baby teeth are temporary, they are still important, and are still at risk of developing cavities.

Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a confident smile. Their first teeth also help make sure their adult teeth come in correctly.

Tooth decay that occurs in infants or toddlers is commonly referred to as baby bottle tooth decay. One common cause is the frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to drinks that contain sugar.

Tooth saving tips for parents to help prevent baby bottle tooth decay

• Wipe your baby’s gums with a clean damp cloth after feedings.
• Brush your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as the first tooth appears.
  • Use a grain of rice-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste if recommended by a dental professional, otherwise, just use water.
  • At three years of age, start using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing your child’s teeth.
• Only put breastmilk, formula or milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks.
• Never put your baby to bed with a bottle or sippy cup.
  • If your child needs something to suck on to fall asleep, offer a bottle or sippy cup filled with plain water, or a clean soother.
• Do not prop up your baby’s bottle, as this can increase the risk of tooth decay. It can also put your baby at risk for choking or inhaling the fluid.
• Have your child practice drinking sips of water from a small open cup at 6 months of age or when your baby can sit up (this is for practice only and should not replace breast or bottle feeding)
• Encourage your child to drink from an open cup by his/her first birthday.
• Work toward a goal of not using a bottle by age 12 to 18 months.
• Avoid constant sipping from a bottle or sippy cup during the day, unless it only contains water.
• Provide your child with water during meals and between meals.
• Limit the amount of sugary beverages, such as fruit juice, pop, iced tea, fruit drink or flavoured milk your child drinks.
• If your child is having a sugary drink, put it in an open cup instead of a bottle or sippy cup.
• If your child uses a soother, never dip it in sugar, honey or other sweet substances as a way to get them to stop crying.
• Encourage healthy eating habits and limit the amount of candies, sweets and sticky foods.
• Be a good role model by choosing healthy foods and drinks and letting your child see you brush your teeth regularly.

Keep your germs to yourself.

When you clean a soother by popping it into your mouth, and when you share spoons with your solid-eating older infant, you introduce bacteria from your mouth into your baby’s. That bacteria can lead to cavities, so it’s always best to wash and rinse your baby’s spoon or soother if it falls on the floor or gets dirty. Having a back-up, clean soother available is always a good idea too.

Do you have questions about how to care for your bottle-fed child’s mouth and teeth?

Contact the Oral Health Team at the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit.
Simcoe Office:
185 Robinson St Simcoe, ON
Phone: 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623
Fax: 519-426-9974

Caledonia Office:
282 Argyle St. S.
Caledonia, ON
Phone: 905-318-6623
Fax: 905-765-8905

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