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Jann Ingmire, [email protected]
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Baby Formulas Place Infants at Risk for Tooth Decay
CHICAGO - An analysis of several infant formulas shows that some have
significant potential to cause tooth decay in babies if parents allow
the child to sleep with a bottle of formula in their mouth.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Caries Research Center
published this study of cariogenic potential of infant formulas, milk,
water and sugar water in the July issue of the Journal of the American
Dental Association (JADA).
The researchers fed one group of laboratory rats sugar water and
laboratory food; one group several commercially available infant
formulas with sugar water as a control; and another group milk with 2
percent fat.
After the diets were concluded, the teeth were analyzed and scored
according to the number of carious lesions (areas on teeth with decay)
and severity of these lesions.
The results revealed that the rats that consumed a diet of sugar water
had the highest score (1) while those that drank milk had the lowest
(0.05). Rats that were fed infant formula with low iron had the highest
(0.36 and 0.34) among all infant formulas tested, while those that
consumed infant formulas with lactose had the lowest scores in the
formula group (0.08).
The researchers theorized that the lactose in milk metabolizes more
slowly than the sucrose and corn syrup, thus slowing the decay process.
They also explained that formulas with low iron had high scores because
iron has been shown to be cariostatic, neither promoting nor preventing
tooth decay.
The authors point out that because their analysis strongly suggests that
many infant formulas and sugar containing liquids have cariogenic
potential, an infant should not be allowed to sleep with a bottle
containing such a substance. Plain water remains the most harmless
liquid if sleeping with a bottle is necessary.
Parents who wish to reduce their infant's risk of tooth decay should
take their child to the dentist by the child's first birthday for an
initial oral exam. At the exam, the parents will learn feeding practces
that reduce decay risk and how to properly clean the child's teeth and
gums in order to help prevent both tooth decay and other dental
diseases.
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