When a baby is put to bed with a bottle, the liquid drips into the mouth continuously. It collects around the teeth as long as the bottle is in the mouth, and is like sending the baby to bed with a mouthful of candy.
Take a look at the above pictures. In the left photo, notice how all teeth are severely decayed except the lower ones. As a child sleeps with the bottle, his tongue covers the lower teeth, protecting them. When we see a mouth like this, as dentists we know the child has been sleeping with a bottle. Notice also how inflamed and swollen the gums are compared to a healthy mouth and teeth on the right.
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