Over the past several years thousands of young South Australian children have needed to be admitted to hospital for an operation to have their teeth removed under general anaesthesia. These operations have been needed because of nursing bottle tooth decay. This is very worrying, especially since nursing bottle tooth decay is totally preventable. Nursing bottle tooth decay happens in young children who frequently suck on bottles of fluid containing sugars.
Sugars are in fluids such a fruit juice and cordial, and surprisingly in milk and milk formulas.
Sugars are also present in honey, jam, and glycerine which are sometimes used to sweeten a child s dummy and provide comfort. Bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugars, and in the process make acids, which eat away at the young child s tooth enamel and cause decay. Young children s teeth are more susceptible to decay than adults. Each time a young child drinks these fluids, acids attack the child s teeth for at least 20 minutes. If these fluids are given often, or for long periods of time, tooth decay occurs.