Posted by Dr. Bill Williams on December 9, 2019 · Leave a Comment
Did you know the decay from a baby tooth can affect your child’s adult teeth too? Taking care of your child’s teeth at a young age is what will help their permanent teeth develop correctly and come in healthy.
Tooth decay in infants is most commonly seen in the upper front teeth. This type of decay is known as “baby bottle” tooth decay. It’s caused from lengthy exposure of their teeth to liquids that contain sugar. As their parent, it’s up to you to make sure they get the oral hygiene they need until they are old enough to do it on their own.
- Clean your infant’s gums with a clean, damp cloth
- When their first teeth come in, brush with a small and soft bristled toothbrush using only water
- Monitor disproportionate sucking of pacifiers, fingers and thumbs to avoid misalignment of teeth
- Don’t permit your child to fall asleep with a bottle of formula, juice or milk
- Avoid filling your child’s bottle with excessively sugary liquids
- Let them drink tap or fountain water, if you choose to buy bottled water, make sure it contains fluoride. This will help their teeth resist decay
- Encourage your children to brush their own teeth when they are old enough so they gain self confidence.
- We always encourage our patients to lead by example, letting your child watch you brush teaches them the importance of good oral hygiene.
The ideal time to bring your child into the dentist is six months after their first primary teeth erupt or by their first birthday. This is the best time for the dentist to carefully examine the development of your child’s mouth. This way your dentist can help provide recommended preventive care that will help avert oral health problems.
