How big of a problem is baby bottle tooth decay? we don't give anything to our baby in a bottle other than milk and water, but i'm still worried that we're giving it to her too close to bed time. i try to make sure she doesn't fall asleep with it in her m

Then : Then you may be in for a problem. Feed your baby and clean her teeth before bedtime. Use a soft towel of she is too young to use a baby toothbrush. After you have cleaned her teeth, only water in the bottle. The terrible thing about baby bottle syndrome is that it causes severe cavities on the child's teeth. The terrific thing about baby bottle syndrome is that it is easily prevented. Hope this info helps.

Agreed.: This is a huge problem with a simple solution. The key is to manage time intervals your baby has sugar (from milk in this case) in her mouth. Bacteria make acid for a certain amount of time (for estimation use 1 hr) after the last mouthful of [milk]. Her saliva will neutralize the acid by then end of that hour. Talk with you hygienist, work out a schedule. It sounds like you're on the right track.

Big problem: Baby tooth decay can lead to pain, infections, traumatized child, lost teeth, spacing issues, etc. Don't ever leave a bottle in the crib. By one, they really shouldn't need a bottle to fall asleep...Break that habit early. Once teeth erupt, ideally you should brush, have a sip a water, and if appropriate use Fluoride drops right before putting the baby down. Have atleast a yearly checkup by one.

Big problem: It sounds like you are doing the right thing. Baby bottle tooth decay is usually associated with letting the baby sleep with a bottle. Fruit juices are the biggest culprit.