Your baby’s erupting teeth are a milestone that marks the growth of their smile. Even though these baby teeth (primary teeth) are tiny, they’re also vital to your child’s developing oral structure. Baby teeth hold those spots for permanent adult teeth to come in later. Without these “placeholder” teeth, your baby can suffer from poor nutrition, speech issues, or crooked and damaged adult teeth.
Oral Hygiene Starts Early
Even before their first tooth comes in, you want to clean your infant’s gums. Using a soft, damp washcloth or section of gauze, wipe their gums after feedings (breast or bottle), as well as before putting them down for the night. This removes bacterial plaque that damages baby teeth when they do come in.
Once your little’s one’s first baby tooth arrives, you can start using a baby toothbrush or keep using a cloth until your baby is older. Then you can start using a moistened toothbrush and soften the bristles by soaking them in warm water for a couple of minutes. Once the teeth are showing you can even use a rice grain-sized bit of toothpaste to protect tooth enamel.
Preventing Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
1-To protect your baby’s teeth when they start coming in, stick to baby formula, breast milk, water and electrolyte liquids (when your baby experiences diarrhea). Never give them sweetened liquids, and only offer 4 ounces of 100% fruit juice a day as a treat.
2-Once your child has one or more teeth, sweet drinks (or pacifiers dipped into sugar or syrup) coat the teeth, forming dental plaque. Known as “baby bottle tooth decay”, it damages exposed teeth, and if left treated, becomes infected and painful.
3-If you put your baby down for a nap or at bedtime, sweet drinks feed the harmful oral bacteria, secreting acids that attack tooth enamel and protective saliva flow diminishes while they sleep. Plain water in their bottle or sippy cup lets them fill their belly and soothe themselves without tooth-damaging sweeteners!
Call To Schedule Baby’s First Visit
If your baby is fussy and drooling more than usual, their first tooth may be coming in. Our Sugarbug Dental & Orthodontics team in Oxnard, CA, welcomes you to call us at (805) 985-2400 with your concerns or to schedule their first visit. Setting the foundation for a healthy smile now means a healthy smile later!