Pediatric dentistry is an area of dentistry that focuses on the oral health of children. Starting good dental hygiene habits early in life is important. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, more than 50% of children under the age of nine have had at least one cavity in their baby teeth, and…
Cavity Prevention Dentist Tips for Your Baby
Parents should focus on cavity prevention tips for the babies as early as possible. Preventing cavities should start at a young age. Bring your babies to a pediatric dentist the moment they start eating solid food. The dentist will then give you advice on how to take care of your kids’ oral and dental health.
Cavity prevention starts at home
Cavities are caused by at least four things: bacteria in the mouth, frequent snacking, sugary drinks, and poor dental health. To prevent cavities in kids, parents must know why it happens in the first place. Unfortunately, bacteria may enter the mouth in a variety of ways. One of the ways is through the parents. If the parents and kids share a spoon or food, bacteria are more likely to pass to each other.
Number one, make sure not to share utensils and food with the kids. Number two, give kids healthy and nutritious snacks. Number three, avoid sugary foods and drinks. And number four, teach the kids how to brush and floss their teeth.
Take care of the baby’s teeth
Breastfed and bottle-fed babies need the same level of care for dental health. For cavity prevention to be successful, parents need to know how to take care of the baby’s teeth from birth. Parents need to wipe the baby’s gums with a clean washcloth. Once the parents see the first tooth come out, they should start cleaning it with a soft brush.
From 12 to 36 months, parents need to brush the babies’ teeth twice a day for two minutes. There is a special toothpaste intended for babies. Use this to clean the teeth and gums. Make it part of the habit to brush after breakfast and dinner, or after big meals.
Look for fluoridated water or supplement
Is the water at home fluoridated? Children will benefit from drinking fluoridated water. The dentist may want to check first if the water contains natural fluoride. Otherwise, the dentists will advise babies to take fluoride supplements for cavity prevention. Also, parents can apply fluoride varnish to the babies’ teeth to protect them from decay and other problems.
Limit sweets and sticky food
Candies, gummies, and cookies will make babies happy. However, these are bad for their dental health. Even crackers and chips have sugar, too. Avoid giving the kids sugary treats, especially before bedtime. At the very least, parents need to give babies water to wash off the sugar from the mouth. Parents may also clean the babies’ gums and teeth once more if they drink milk before bedtime.
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See a dentist regularly
Babies as young as six months or one year need to see a pediatric dentist. The dentists will advise parents on how to take care of the babies’ teeth and how to prevent future dental problems. Parents should take the babies to the dentists when there are problems and for regular checkups. Learning how to take care of the baby’s teeth should be a priority for parents.
Aiming to get preventive pediatric dentistry treatments can improve your child’s oral health. Natural teeth develop as the child does. Both baby and adult teeth help properly develop speech. These teeth also aid in the proper absorption of nutrients. That is why caring for them is necessary. Here are the details if you want to…
Looking for a pediatric dentist? Read on to learn more about the importance of taking your child to one regularly. Oral health is critical to overall wellness. Therefore, establishing good dental hygiene habits early in life is paramount. This dental health journey requires routine visits to the pediatric dentist. Besides treating dental issues, these dentists…