How to Make Sure Your Baby’s Teeth Are Healthy
By Peter Griffith | Published on July 26, 2010 | 0 Comments
There are certain milestones in a baby’s life that any loving parent is sure to remember. From your baby’s first smile and first steps, to his first words and very first tooth, every new experience is magical. To ensure that your child’s oral health is strong throughout the rest of his promising and bright future, Peter Griffith D.D.S., a family dentist in Sunnyvale, California with Griffith Family Dental, says that it is important for new parents to take an active role in their child’s oral health even before the first signs of a baby tooth.
Providing proper nutrition
The key to making sure that both baby teeth and permanent teeth are strong, he explains, is good nutrition even before the teeth come in, including before the baby is born. Once you actually see the tooth forming then the state of the tooth really won’t be susceptible to any type of improvements, but rather, it will basically stay the same, Dr. Griffith says; and it will be too late if you start focusing on oral health only at that point.
Besides making sure that your child is eating the right foods and getting the recommended vitamins and minerals, he also says that it is important to make sure that your child is taking fluoride (either tablets or drops) as early as a few months old until the child is around the age of 12. Some areas of the country already have fluoride in their public drinking water systems, but if yours does not, or if you mostly drink filtered or bottled water, then your dentist or primary care physician can provide you with the necessary prescription.
Caring for new teeth
When you do start to notice that your child is teething or you can visibly see a tooth erupting through the gum line, however, then Dr. Griffith says that it becomes a matter of keeping your baby’s mouth clean. You can purchase toothbrushes that are specifically made for infants, but if you are concerned that it may be too abrasive for a baby that only has a few teeth growing in, he suggests using a wash rag on your finger to wipe the teeth and gums.
What to avoid
Throughout his time in the dental profession, Dr. Griffith explains that one of the leading causes of tooth decay in infants and toddlers is what dentists refer to as “baby bottle mouth.” When your child drinks a bottle that contains milk or juice as he is put down for a nap or for the night, he tends to fall asleep with a little bit of the liquid still in his mouth that isn’t swallowed. When this happens repeatedly, then the last leftover drink causes decay in the teeth of children as young as two years old. Instead of milk or juice, Dr. Griffith recommends only putting water in a bottle when your child is about to go to sleep to prevent this from occurring. Similar to the sugar content of the juice and milk, Dr. Griffith also suggests avoiding teething biscuits because some bits of the cookie will probably remain in your child’s mouth until his next brushing, which will, again, cause a significant amount of decay over time.
However, says Dr. Griffith, it is not just the food and drinks that your child consumes that can be affecting his oral health; pacifiers and thumb-sucking can become problems as well. While many newborns and toddlers are calmed by using pacifiers, after a certain age, it can start to cause damage to the teeth, he warns. If your child is still sucking his thumb or using a pacifier at the age of four, then you should start to wean him off of the habit. If not, Dr. Griffith explains, it may cause his baby teeth to shift, and he may get buck teeth or teeth that grow in improperly. Surprisingly, the thumb-sucking actually causes more of a problem then a pacifier, he says, because the thumb is pushing up against the back of the two front teeth and pushing them too far forward.
If you are still concerned about the oral health of your baby, then upon your next visit to the dentist, or even your baby’s first visit of his own, address your questions and ask for further recommendations that will help to ensure that your child’s smile is healthy and picture-perfect.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.