BABY BOTTLE SYNDROME (HORRIFYING EFFECTS OF TOOTH DECAY/CARIES)

BABY BOTTLE SYNDROME

HORRIFYING EFFECTS OF TOOTH DECAY/CARIES

Baby Bottle Syndrome is also known as Early Childhood Caries. This disease affects general health of the child due to malfunction in teeth. This syndrome occurs due to poor care of teeth in early childhood.

Children are fed by breast milk or powdered milk. Main reason of tooth decay/ cavity is retention of sweet food. Sweet milk or juice given in any form may produce decay in any teeth, even in erupting incisors during age of 6-8 months. Bacteria present in these decayed teeth might also cause damage in other erupting teeth by spreading sweetened liquid/ food to the other tooth.

Basically, bacteria produce acid in the outermost part of enamel of the teeth which leads to cavity formation. This may spread to deeper layers of the tooth leading to infection. Symptoms like dental pain and sensitivity are observed in cases of deep cavities. Long standing infection results into formation of pus in surrounding gums/periodontium, which can also be identified as pus filled ulcers in the mouth.
 

SYMPTOMS:

·         Black spots formation on teeth.

·         Food accumulation/ lodgement in tooth cavity.

·         Bad smell from the mouth.

·         Pain in the tooth.

·         Fever due to pus formation in relation to teeth/ gums.

·         Digestion problems due to trouble in chewing.

·         Irritation ulcers may appear on tongue, cheeks, lips due to trauma from sharp edges of the decayed teeth.

·         Insufficient weight gain is seen.

·         Due to improper diet, child's behavior becomes aggressive or effects of malnutrition is seen on other parts of the body like eyes, skin etc.

HORRIFYING EFFECTS:

Sometimes it becomes difficult to control the infection even under proper medications or dressings due to resistant bacteria. This may lead to various facial space infections causing 

Ludwig's angina,which may be life threatening. It is not possible to judge when a simple tooth ache can cause infectious swelling. Thus, it is advisable to consult pediatric dentist so that he can give proper treatment to the child.

DIAGNOSIS:

          If the above mentioned symptoms are seen in the child then he should be taken to pediatric dentist for  clinical and radiographical examination to know the exact level of decay in tooth. Following diagnoses, proper treatment planning can be done.

TREATMENT:

·         If just the enamel or dentin is affected by the decay then tooth can be restored using dental cement. 

·         In case of pulp involvement which causes infection, pulpectomy followed by stainless steel crowns is the treatment done for the child.

·         If there is excessive decay in tooth then the pieces of the tooth are to be removed/extracted. It is followed by giving space maintainer to avoid inappropriate movement/shifting of neighboring teeth in empty space.

·         If the child is not cooperative then instead of many sittings treatment can be done in single sitting under genaral anesthesia.

 Dr. Meet R. Ramatri, M.D.S.