Dentist explains how to save your baby from excruciating pain

Nursing Bottle Syndrome (NBS), also known as Baby Bottle Syndrome, affects children less than five years of age. NBS is caused when baby teeth come in contact with liquids containing sugar such as milk, formula or juice for an extended period of time. It causes extensive decay.

Consequently, children as young as two end up needing fillings, crowns or extractions.

As a dentist, if I were to tell you that there was one thing you could do to save your toddler or baby from excruciating pain, chances are you would sit up and listen. And yet, this simple advice flies below the radar for so many parents.

For the last thirteen years, I have seen a dramatic spike in toddlers coming in for these procedures and as a professional dentist, it is unbearably painful. And to think that swapping water for either milk, formula or juice in baby bottles is a pre-emptive solution is so often tossed to the side.

Most of my NBS patients are children who are less than five-years-old. I have seen them suffer and their parents cry as they undergo treatment.

Educating parents should be a priority for our healthcare providers, media and government. Children don't come with a manual and the first child is always a learning experience. I became a mother at the age of 35 and it was not easy.

The solution is at hand

When children fall asleep while having the bottle or while breastfeeding, the milk remains in their mouth all night long. The bacteria present in the mouth breaks sugar down into acid, causing tooth decay.

Does this mean we should not breastfeed? Breastfeeding is great for a child but after their first birthday, have a bottle of water ready to swap after feeding, so any residual milk or formula is rinsed down. Aim to gradually reduce the frequency with which you feed at night.

Harried parents also use a bottle filled with milk or juice as a pacifier. Others dilute juice with water in a sippy cup. Still others ply their children with sugary snacks. As a result, there is a steady stream of sugar in contact with the teeth, giving bacteria a lot of time to cause cavities.

Tips to prevent NBS

1. Wean children from the bottle as early as 12-14 months.

2. Never let your child walk around with a bottle filled with milk for more than 20 minutes.

3. Begin brushing your child's teeth as soon as teeth appear.

4. Dental examinations should begin at 12 months or earlier, if a problem is noted.

5. Juices and sodas cause erosion of teeth and should be avoided. 4oz is the maximum amount of juice a child should consume in a day.

6. Children should be fed every 2-3 hours. A typical schedule could be breakfast at 8 am, snack at 10 am, lunch at 12 pm and so forth. Water is the only thing they should be consuming between the meals.

Important tips to remember:

Start cleaning your child's teeth as soon as the teeth erupt. Use a wet gauge to clean them when they are partially erupted; once the front tooth erupts completely, use a soft tooth brush.

Make sure you are cleaning the gums too. Brush two times a day and floss once. Use safe to swallow, no fluoride training toothpaste, until your child learns to spit out the toothpaste and then move on to fluoridated toothpaste.

They can start using children's mouthwash at around five years of age, make sure they are not swallowing it.

Healthy teeth start young and a few simple steps can avert very painful consequences. In life, it is never too early to start a healthy habit.