Both of these habits can cause your baby's teeth to decay. Decay in infants and children is called baby bottle tooth decay. It can destroy the teeth and most often occurs in the upper front teeth. But other teeth may also be affected. Decay occurs when sweetened liquids are given and are left clinging to an infant's teeth for long periods.
Many sweet liquids cause problems, including milk, formula and fruit juice.
Bacteria in the mouth use these sugars as food. They then produce acids that attack the teeth. Each time your child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. After many attacks, the teeth can decay. Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day isn't a good idea.