The dental health of babies has impact on later life. Here are some important tips to make sure that you provide proper dental care to your babies. It is considered a milestone when your baby earns his first baby tooth. Having your child get his baby tooth is a sign that your baby has arrived to a new level of progress. The milk teeth are temporary but they still need proper dental care and attention just like adults.
Parents are often unaware that the baby teeth have important roles on the upcoming status of the permanent teeth such as its spacing, health, and alignment. If the milk teeth are damaged or lost at an early stage, your baby is running on a greater risk of having poor and misaligned permanent teeth. This case often leads to open bite and jaw pains later on. Also, the permanent ones that spring after the milk teeth are subject to decay if the milk teeth are already decayed.
This compels us to provide proper family dental care even during infancy. Even before the first tooth of the baby protrudes, you should clean his/her mouth. One way of doing so is through a damp cloth or a finger brush being rubbed into his/her gums after feeding. The food debris is removed during this process and also makes the infant adapted to mouth cleaning. After the arrival of the milk teeth, you have to make sure to wipe these teeth regularly especially after feeding.
Take note that baby teeth are not as strong as adult teeth. If the baby teeth do not undergo proper dental care, the teeth are more likely to decay and develop cavities easier. Surely no parent wants their child’s dental health jeopardized – especially at an early stage. Also, most dental health care facilities do not provide dental treatment to kids below 3 years old, so it is up to you to maintain his/her dental health. For your baby’s dental health, these are three tips that you have to keep in your mind:
Do not let your baby get used to sleeping with a feeding bottle in his/her mouth – especially if it is not water. Whether it is milk or juice, never give harmful bacteria on the child’s mouth something to feed on. Chances are he/she would develop the nursing bottle syndrome, which is a serious dental disorder. Even an infant’s mouth is not exempted from having bacteria inside. These bacteria feed on sugar and if the bottle is left overnight with a drink with sugar, the bacteria secrete acids that attack the enamel of the baby’s tooth, causing it to rot and decay. Instead of using milk or juice before bedtime, use water.
Soft bristles and a soft head are essential to a baby’s toothbrush. Also, replace the baby’s toothbrush every 3 months. The permanent teeth begin its development at around 6 years old. Before reaching this age, ensure that you use low fluoride toothpaste as high intake of fluoride damage the teeth. According to the studies of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, it is best to you use fluoridated toothpaste only after your baby has reached 2 years old.
By properly cleaning his/her mouth, you are teaching your child the significance of proper dental care. Having this knowledge would be a great advantage later on. Early education on dental health care would prevent you from wasting money on dental treatments and emergency dental care. With this in mind, you can sleep sound because your baby’s teeth are in good condition.
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