The mouth of an infant requires preparation to guarantee dental health and to prepare for the growth of teeth. Parents should develop the habit of cleaning a baby’s gums soon after birth. Most babies don’t start teething and developing baby teeth until they are six months old but dental care is important from the very beginning. Although newborns typically have no visible teeth, most have vestigial primary or baby teeth under the surface of the gum, beginning to appear (or erupt) in the first three to nine months. The eruption of the complete set of 20 primary teeth usually occurs front to back over the child’s first few years. Wake Pediatric Dentistry has a team of pediatric experts who are available to teach you the correct way to care for your infant’s teeth.
Importance of Baby Teeth.
Baby teeth are crucial for early child development. They allow a child to learn to chew food properly. This learning often cannot be repeated later and failure can emerge as a poor habit in later life. Early tooth decay can be progressive and can affect the general health of a child. It can lead to painful infections. Poorly formed or decayed primary teeth can also contribute to poor speech development. The primary teeth hold the space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. Poorly formed or spaced primary teeth can cause dental problems in later childhood. Learn more about why baby teeth matter.
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 significant 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.
Your Infant Needs Dental Care: Contact Us Today
Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry encourages you to take care of your infant’s teeth before they even show. Proper dental care from the very beginning of life will set your child up for a lifetime of successful oral hygiene. If you need help with the techniques or have questions, please ask at your child’s next scheduled appointment or contact us to set one up for your infant. We can’t wait to see you!