All parents know that babies need constant care. Feeding, changing, stimulating brain patterns, and sleeping routines are all vital to a baby’s developmental health. But did you know that your baby need dental care too? An infant’s gums need special care to ensure that their developing teeth are healthy. Even though you cannot see them, your baby is developing their baby teeth below the gumline and they are getting ready to erupt. RVA Pediatric Dentistry knows the importance of caring for your new baby’s gums and ensuring their baby teeth are healthy as they grow.
A Lifelong Commitment
It may be a lot of work to care for the teeth of a fussy infant or a squirmy toddler, but your children will reap the rewards of your persistence and efforts with a healthy mouth, gums, and teeth. The first teething can be an exhausting time for parents. Keep in touch with your pediatrician during this period. Abnormal patterns, like early eruption of teeth, can signal a health problem.
Early Tooth Decay
Early tooth decay is a major problem in the United States. An estimated 44 percent of 5-year-old children have experienced tooth decay. Early tooth decay, often called baby bottle tooth decay, can occur when a baby holds the bottle in his or her mouth for long periods of time as the baby sleeps. Sugary liquids including formula, milk, or fruit juices collect in pools around the teeth and enable the development of cavity-causing conditions in the front teeth, like acids from bacteria.
Tooth decay is also a disease that can be transmitted from parent to infant. Plaque bacteria, whose acids cause decay can be passed from parent to child via saliva. This typically happens when bacteria from the parents’ mouth comes in contact with an infant’s spoon or pacifier passed from parent to infant.
Cavity Prevention
Never allow a baby to fall asleep with a bottle that contains fruit juice, formula, milk, sweetened liquids, or a pacifier dipped in honey or sugar mixtures. Avoid sharing feeding spoons with your baby or licking pacifiers. Wash these utensils before exchanging them with the baby.
- Begin cleaning your baby’s gums and early teeth with a xylitol wipe, a clean gauze pad, or a washcloth.
- When the baby teeth erupt, brush them with a child-sized toothbrush using water only.
- If you plan on using a fluoride toothpaste before the child is 2-years-old, you should consult with a pediatric dentist or pediatrician before doing so.
- Children shouldn’t swallow toothpaste. Make sure they are supervised while brushing until good habits are established.
- Encourage children to drink from a cup before their first birthdays. Drinking from a cup reduces the risk of baby bottle decay.
- Schedule a dental visit for your child once the first tooth appears. Make sure the dentist is skilled at making children feel comfortable. This could be a critical meeting that could color a child’s attitudes toward dental hygiene.
- Allow the dentist to demonstrate the proper technique for cleaning your baby’s teeth.
Following these simple tips can help you properly care for your baby’s developing teeth and gums. By making oral healthcare a priority at such a young age, you can be sure you’re taking every step to give your child a foundation for great oral health in the future. To learn more about dental care for babies and toddlers, contact RVA Pediatric Dentistry for a consultation. We would love to be part of your family!