Dental Care for Babies
Many people think that babies don’t need to worry about dental care at all because they will lose their baby teeth soon enough anyways. They think that the focus should only be on the child’s permanent teeth.
The baby teeth or primary set of teeth will eventually fall out and will be replaced by the permanent teeth. One of the most important reasons that you should take a child to the dentist early is to have them learn at an early age how important good dental health can be for the rest of their lives. If you have good dental habits early in life, you will be set, but if your child doesn’t go to the dentist until the age of 6, it might be hard to develop good habits by then.
Most children get their first set of teeth when they are six months old. The bottom row of teeth are the first ones to appear and then the top row comes next. There will be 20 primary teeth and they usually come at a different schedule. The last baby teeth are the second molars will appear at the age of 2 or 3.
An infant’s teeth can start to decay from the moment it first erupts. Infant dental decay can be painful for your child. Of course, at six months, an infant cannot be responsible for brushing his or her own teeth, so it will be the caregiver’s responsibility. Gently brushing or rubbing the infant’s teeth can help the child.
Pediatric dentists will say that a child should see a dentist around the age of 1. The dentist will want to ensure the baby is getting plenty of fluoride from drinking water. Dentists can write a prescription for fluoride to protect the child’s teeth that are developing. If the baby’s teeth are spotting or staining, you might want to see a dentist right away.
To keep your child’s teeth from decaying, you will want to avoid sugary drinks, especially at night. Don’t fill the baby bottle with sweet drinks as a pacifier. Most of the milk and formula and sometimes even fruit drinks can have a lot of sugar in them. It’s not a good idea to coat the pacifier with sugar either since that will hurt your child’s teeth. Also, who wants to have a child on a sugar high that is sure to lead to a sugar crash in just a few moments.
At two years old, a child should start brushing their teeth on a regular basis. Make sure you supervise the brushing techniques to make sure that the right habits are being formed. If you brush your child’s teeth consistently every day, they will get used to brushing their teeth every morning and night for healthy dental hygiene.
Stay away from sugary drinks, foods and snacks which will make your child’s teeth decay at a rapid rate. Teach your child how to eat fruits and vegetables, which will limit tooth decay and help them live a healthier lifestyle and get the nutrients they need.
Introduction to Dental Care
Fluoride and Dental Care – How to Fight Tooth Decay
Dental Flossing Care – How to Clean Your Teeth and Gums
Food and Your Teeth
Dental Care – How to Clean and Brush Your Teeth and Gums
How to Care, Clean and When to Replace Your Toothbrush
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