Health Tip: Understanding Bottlemouth Syndrome

• Tweet
• Pin It

Bottlemouth syndrome is a form of tooth decay that affects babies and young children. It is caused by prolonged drinking of sugary liquids from a bottle.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says children are at greater risk of bottlemouth if they are put to bed with a bottle of milk or juice.

The decay is most common in the upper front teeth, and may ultimately require oral surgery.

The Academy recommends giving a child plenty of water after he or she drinks milk or juice.

Caregivers also should watch for symptoms of bottlemouth syndrome, such as:

• Red gums.
• Irritated mouth.
• Teeth that look abnormal.

Source: HealthDay

Copyright © 2026 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

• Tweet
• Pin It