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My Child Has:
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Nursing Bottle Caries
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Nursing caries, or tooth decay, can be caused by children sleeping with bottles. This is also called baby bottle tooth decay. It is caused when a child goes to bed with a bottle filled with milk or juice - anything except water. It usually affects children between the ages of 1 and 2 years. Breastfed infants who fall asleep while breastfeeding are also at risk.
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The following are the most common symptoms of nursing caries. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
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- white spots on the teeth
- early development of cavities (brown areas on the tooth that lead to tooth destruction)
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The following are suggestions to help prevent nursing caries:
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- Do not allow your child to go to bed with a bottle filled with anything but water.
- Wean your child from the bottle in a timely manner.
- Begin good early mouth care of the gums and teeth.
- Give fluoride supplementation, as recommended by your child's physician.
- Have early dental visits for your child.
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