Therefore, to avoid future problems, it's important to keep teeth healthy. Teeth are covered by an invisible sticky film called plaque. Bacteria in plaque use sugar to produce acids. These acids then attack tooth enamel. If sugary liquid is allowed to remain in the mouth, the bacteria have more time to produce acids that can attack the teeth.
Tooth decay can then occur after frequent acid attacks.
It's not just what children drink, but how often and for how long their teeth are exposed to decay-causing acids. That's why frequently offering your child a bottle containing sugary liquid as a pacifier, or allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night, can do serious harm to the teeth. During sleep, the flow of saliva decreases, allowing the sweetened liquids from the bottle to pool around the child's teeth for long periods. This greatly increases your child's risk of decay. If your baby needs a comforter between regular feedings or at bedtime, use only water in the bottle or give the child a clean pacifier recommended by your dentist or pediatrician.