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The Importance of Baby
Teeth
A common question asked by new parents is:
Why should I worry about cavities in baby’s teeth when these teeth will fall out
anyway?
There are several reasons why baby teeth should be taken care of from the moment
they break through the gums.
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Baby teeth hold a place and serve as spacers for the permanent teeth.
Decay and early loss of these baby teeth can cause loss of space for the
permanent teeth, which leads to the permanent teeth shifting and thus
leads to orthodontic problems for your child.
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Healthy baby teeth are important in helping your baby speak clearly and
properly.
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Nice looking teeth are important for your baby’s self-confidence.
Missing teeth, decaying teeth or bad breath can lead to your child
getting teased by other children.
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Your baby will need these baby teeth for biting and chewing. Without
these teeth, your child might not get the proper nutrition.
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Brushing Baby Teeth
Most pediatricians and dentists agree that it’s best
to start cleaning your baby’s mouth even before the first teeth start to show.
In fact, the American Dental Association suggests that your baby’s mouth should
start being cleaned a few days after birth.
The gums and first teeth can be cleaned with a wet
cloth, gauze pad or infant toothbrush. While a toothbrush isn’t necessary, it
can get your baby in the habit of brushing. If you want to use toothpaste, be
sure it’s toothpaste designed for infants. Infant and baby toothpaste is
fluoride free and can be swallowed. Since babies aren’t use to spitting
toothpaste out and will have a tendency to swallow, this could lead to an
overdose of fluoride if adult toothpaste is used.
When brushing baby teeth you want to be soft and
gentle. Your baby’s teeth and gums are very soft and delicate, so vigorous
brushing is not necessary. It’s also recommended that you brush your baby’s
tongue, since it can also carry germs.
While it’s ideal to brush your baby’s teeth after
every meal, it’s not always practical. You should at least try to get into a
routine where there is a morning and evening cleaning, preferable after meals.
The most important time to brush is just before bed. Since the production of
saliva decreases during sleep, you will want to make sure your baby has a clean
mouth before bedtime. This will prevent bacteria and plaque from lying on and
decaying the teeth during the night.
Once you get your baby into a routine of brushing from
an early age, he or she can carry this routine into the second and third year
when they will want to start brushing themselves. When your child reaches the
age when they want to start brushing themselves, let them take over the routine,
but continue to keep an eye on them to make sure they are brushing properly.
Baby Bottle Tooth
Decay
Each year a large number of infants and young children
experience tooth decay from milk, juices and other liquids being given to them
in a bottle at bedtime. This decay from milk and juice is called “Baby Bottle
Tooth Decay” or “Baby Bottle Mouth”.
When a baby falls asleep, the production of saliva
decreases significantly. If a baby is given milk, juice or other sugary liquid
and is then put to bed without brushing, the sugar in these liquids along with
the bacteria that is naturally present in a baby’s mouth join together to form
an acid, which starts attacking and decaying the teeth.
It’s best to get into a routine early and not let your
baby fall asleep in the crib with a bottle of milk, juice or other sugary
liquid. Prevention is the key to prevent baby bottle tooth decay.
Preventative steps:
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Don’t put your baby to bed for the night with a bottle of milk or juice.
Most juices contain natural sugars, while milk contains sugar called
lactose, which bacteria can also use to create acid, thus causing the
decay.
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Don’t let your baby use a bottle of milk or juice as a pacifier. Lying
around all day sucking at will on the bottle can be as harmful to teeth
as putting a baby to bed at night with a bottle.
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Don’t give your baby a pacifier that has been dipped in a sugary
substance. While this is tempting to parents to try and calm a fussy
baby with a sugary pacifier, it can cause a lot of damage.
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Give your baby his or her bottle of milk a little before bedtime. This
leaves you time to brush your baby’s teeth before you put him or her
down for the night.
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Try to make the last thing your baby drinks at night before bed be plain
water.
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