Your little one is your pride and joy, and you only want what's best for them. That includes healthy teeth and gums throughout their life. Great dental health, it turns out, starts in infancy. Here are some tips and tricks you can start following right away to help ensure that, as your baby grows, their teeth remain strong and healthy.
Don't share food with your baby.
Moms and dads often sample food off a spoon and then use the spoon to feed their baby. They might even sip from the same cup. While this might be convenient or fun from a bonding standpoint, it's a bad idea for dental health. As an adult, your mouth is colonized with certain oral bacteria, many of which contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. When you share food with your baby, you're passing these oral bacteria into their mouth, which may perpetuate the same dental problems for them.
Never put your baby to bed with a bottle.
There's a condition called baby bottle tooth decay that, quite literally, is caused by baby bottles. Breast milk, cow's milk, formula, and juice all contain sugar, and, when you put your baby to bed with a bottle of one of these substances, the sugar sits on your baby's teeth and perpetuates decay all night long. So, avoid getting into the habit of putting your little one to bed with a bottle, and don't dip a pacifier in sugar or juice to get your child to take it at night, either. If your little one really does need a bottle to drift off to sleep, fill it with some plain water only.
Wipe your baby's gums.
Even before the baby's teeth emerge, it's important to clean the gums after each feeding. Just wipe them off with a soft, moist cloth. This will get your baby used to this process so you will have an easier time brushing their teeth once they do emerge.
Visit the dentist.
As soon as that first tooth emerges, it's time to make your baby's first dental appointment! Your family dentist will ensure any dental problems your baby may be experiencing are detected and properly treated as early as possible, leading to fewer issues down the road. He or she can also show you how to properly brush your baby's teeth and answer any questions you may have about your baby's oral health.
Share14 September 2016
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.