The health of a child’s baby teeth is as important as in adults. The proper care of a child’s baby teeth is extremely important for their overall health as well as the health of future permanent teeth. Even though the teeth the child has are temporary they are still susceptible to cavities. The cavities in the child’s teeth and infants are often referred to as baby bottle tooth decay or early childhood caries. Baby bottle tooth decay usually happens when the child’s teeth are exposed to liquids containing sugar such as milk, juice, and formula for a long time. This usually happens when the parents allow their children to take their nipple bottles with them when they go to sleep, allowing sugar to sit for a long time on the child’s teeth.
A child needs healthy and strong teeth to have a good-looking smile and to avoid speech disorders. So, it is very important to nourish your infant’s teeth with good oral care to protect their teeth from decay and make sure the teeth come in correctly. Furthermore, it is best advised to take the nipple bottle away from the child at bedtime or by the age of one. In addition to it, it is also advised to clean the baby’s teeth and gums regularly to prevent tooth decay.
One common reason for the baby’s tooth decay is the long exposure to the sugar drinks on the baby’s teeth especially when the baby feeds at bedtime with a bottle. It can also happen if frequent cleaning of baby teeth is not done regularly. Research also says that when a child or infant doesn’t receive an adequate amount of fluoride, it may increase the risk of tooth decay. However, the interesting thing is that tooth decay is preventable.
How To Prevent Tooth Decay?
• Avoid sharing saliva with the baby through spoon feeding or licking pacifiers.
• Brush your child’s teeth gently with a child-size toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste until the age of 3.
• Use only formula, milk or breast milk in a bottle and avoid using liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks.
• Encourage the child to drink from a cup and finish the bottle before going to bed.
Visit TriUnity Family Dental Centre or call (204)-999-2341 to schedule your child’s dental appointment
Tooth decay is an oral disease that usually begins by a mother or by passing cavity-causing bacteria to the infants. Insufficient amounts of fluoride may also increase the risk of tooth decay in infants. So, it is advised to schedule a consultation with the best dental care.