A video claiming to show the impact of a severe case of "baby bottle syndrome" on one young child's teeth has gone viral on TikTok.
In the clip, which was uploaded to the social media platform by thekidzdentist, viewers are given a close look inside the mouth of an unnamed child.
As the footage shows, the damage done to the infant's teeth was apparently deemed so severe, the entire top row of their teeth had to be capped with silver crowns.
@thekidzdentist In the most severe cases of “Baby Bottle Syndrome”, the only way to save the teeth are with silver crowns. #teeth #tooth #dentist
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It's a procedure that saw many online suggest the child had been given "grills"—a type of dental jewelry worn over the teeth which is traditionally associated with hip-hop culture.
However, the effect is no laughing matter. Baby bottle or bottlemouth syndrome is a form of tooth decay found in very young children caused by prolonged exposure to milk or sugary liquids.
Most commonly found in the upper front teeth, children with the condition often require oral surgery under general anesthetic as a result.
According to the pediatric advice website Healthy Children, key symptoms to look out for include red gums, an irritated mouth or teeth that look unusual.
Figures published by consumer products company Colgate estimate that 44 percent of 5-year-old children in the U.S. have experienced tooth decay.
The video shared by thekidzdentist, a TikTok account linked to a Los Angeles-based dentist specializing in children's teeth, certainly got a strong reaction, racking up over 1 million views.
All told, the child had silver crowns on each of the 10 teeth in their upper jaw.
The responses of those watching along online ran the gamut from amused to saddened at what they saw in the clip.
Mathiashas0braincells wrote "man's got grills," while 88xx44 joked that the child must be "brushing his teeth with glitter." Just call me._hillz._ claimed, "on the bright side...he gonna look real cool in school."
Others, however, failed to see the funny side. Charlotte DiMarcanto was stunned, asking: "How does this happen?" while Leigh Greenaway said: "If this ain't a reason to avoid squash and milk I don't know what is."
Xyakna noted that although the clip was "sad" the child's age meant he would have another chance when his next set of teeth grow through. "Thank goodness he has the next set when he grows up," they wrote.
In a follow-up video, TheKidzDentist addressed some of the comments his original video attracted.
@thekidzdentist #greenscreenvideo Replying to @mathiashas0braincells How I feel about calling these teeth “grills”
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"I'm not laughing at the 'grills' comments because it's not funny," he said. "If you knew the situation some of these children are in when they come to see me with baby bottle decay, it's nothing to joke about."
He added: "They're in a lot of pain with very little tooth structure left. Sometimes the teeth are even infected and I have to remove them."
"You can call it a grill if you like but I'm just pleased the child can eat, is out of pain and can lead a happy life."
Newsweek has contacted TheKidzDentist for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
