Try to avoid having your child fall asleep while on a milk bottle or on your breast. The pooling of milk or breast milk in the mouth after falling asleep, exposes the teeth to the sugar in the milk for a longer period of time. Also, when the child falls asleep, the salivary flow decreases which allows the milk to stay even longer in the mouth exposing the teeth.
If your child does fall asleep, after feeding, wipe their teeth with a cotton gauze or wash cloth to remove the milk from the teeth. If your child is still up and willing to take a water bottle, that would also flush the milk off their teeth.
Basically, the longer the milk either from a bottle or breast sits on the teeth after the child falls asleep, the greater the chances of tooth decay.
When the child is young, the gum pads and any erupted teeth can be cleaned with a wet gauze or washcloth after bottle feeding, breast feeding, meals and before bedtime. As more teeth begin to erupt, we recommend a child size toothbrush with soft bristles. It is not necessary to use toothpaste with infants; however, as your child becomes a toddler, a small, pea-size amount of toothpaste can be used. The easiest way to brush your child's teeth is to have them face away from you. This way you can stabilize their head with one hand and brush with the other.
Even though baby (primary) teeth eventually fall out, they do serve four very important function. First of all, primary teeth are needed to help your child chew their food. Chewing is the first step in food digestion so they are very important in helping your child get their proper nourishment. Secondly, primary teeth help your child develop proper speech. Tongue-teeth contact is needed for certain sounds. Next, your child's primary teeth gives them their own individual appearance...the way your child looks. This is very important for self esteem. And lastly, primary teeth reserve space for permanent teeth, so if a tooth is lost too early (from tooth decay or trauma), new teeth could grow in crooked. A space maintainer may be needed to maintain the space until the permanent tooth erupts.
Usually between six months and age three, the baby teeth start erupting. Babies, at this time, may have sore or tender gums. To help your baby feel better, you can:
1. Gently rub your baby's gums with a clean wet gauze, your finger, or a small, cool spoon.
2. Give them a clean, chilled (not frozen) teething ring---BUT, don't dip it in anything sweet or in other foods.
3. If your baby is still cranky and uncomfortable , talk to their dentist or pediatrician.
American Dental Association
Copyright © 2024 KidSmileMaker - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder