Bottle tooth decay and cavities in baby teeth: signs, treatment and why baby teeth are treated
Bottle tooth decay (early childhood caries) is fast-spreading decay that starts on the upper front baby teeth, especially in children who fall asleep drinking milk, formula or juice from a bottle. The first sign is chalky white marks along the gum line. Even though baby teeth will eventually fall out, they should be treated: they are needed for chewing, speech and holding space for adult teeth, and infection can affect the adult tooth beneath.
How does bottle tooth decay start?
- Dull, chalky white marks along the gum line of the upper front teeth
- The marks turning yellow-brown and the surface breaking down
- Teeth chipping and darkening, and the child reacting to cold or sweet things
- In advanced stages, pain, swollen gums or an abscess
Early white marks can be stopped with fluoride, so it's important to have them checked as soon as you notice them.
What causes it?
- Falling asleep with a bottle of milk, formula or juice (saliva drops during sleep and sugar stays on the teeth)
- Frequent sugary drinks or snacks throughout the day
- Dipping a dummy in honey or sugar
- Teeth not being brushed regularly
- Decay bacteria passing from parent to baby through shared spoons
How are baby teeth treated?
| Situation | Treatment |
|---|---|
| White marks (early) | Fluoride varnish, changes to diet and brushing |
| Limited decay | Filling |
| Decay reaching the nerve | Baby tooth root treatment (pulpotomy / pulpectomy) |
| Extensive tooth loss | Crown for a baby tooth |
| A tooth that can't be saved | Extraction; a space maintainer if needed |
If a baby tooth is lost early, neighbouring teeth can drift into the gap and leave no room for the adult tooth. A space maintainer may be advised. For how we help children get used to treatment, see children's dentist in Beylikdüzü.
Preventing bottle tooth decay
- Give only water after the last brush at night; don't put your child to sleep with a bottle.
- Start moving to a cup from around one year old.
- Limit fruit juice and sugary drinks, and cut down on snacks between meals.
- From the first tooth, brush twice a day with a rice-grain smear of fluoride toothpaste.
- Have the first check-up when the first tooth appears or by age one.
On fluoride and fissure sealants: fluoride and fissure sealants for children. On teething: teething in babies.
Children's dental check-ups in Beylikdüzü
Dent32 is at Barış Mah., Ginza Lavinya, E-5 Yanyolu No:30 D:179, 34520 Beylikdüzü, Istanbul and is open seven days a week. To book, call or WhatsApp +90 555 011 33 68, or use our contact page. At the examination we share the findings, the options and the approximate cost in writing; you are under no obligation to start treatment afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Baby teeth fall out anyway. Do they really need treating?
Yes. Baby teeth help with chewing and speech and hold space for adult teeth. Untreated decay causes pain and infection and can affect the adult tooth underneath.
Can breastfeeding cause decay?
Breast milk alone is not the main cause of decay, but frequent and prolonged night feeds after teeth have come through can raise the risk if teeth aren't brushed. Regular brushing once teeth appear is important.
Can a baby tooth have root canal treatment?
Yes. When decay reaches the nerve, root treatment suited to baby teeth (pulpotomy or pulpectomy) can keep the tooth until it is due to fall out.
