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One of the world’s hardest jobs is parenthood. You are now responsible for a life, a future – a daunting task, especially for a new parent.
Parents must protect their children from harm and instill self confidence and good habits. Habits, good or bad, will stay with the child throughout their life and they will even pass it on to their children. Good dental hygiene is one of those habits that we must instill.
Preventive dental care has dramatically improved the oral health of American children and it is now possible for children to reach adulthood without ever experiencing tooth decay. As a parent, you may ask why we should care about our children’s teeth or why baby teeth are so important since they will fall out, anyway?
Teeth actually begin to form in the second trimester of pregnancy.
At birth, your baby has 20 primary teeth, some of which are fully developed in the jaw. Proper dental care begins before the first tooth appears. Remember that just because you can’t see the teeth doesn’t mean they aren’t there.
Primary (or “baby”) teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Many letters of the alphabet cannot be pronounced without the help of your teeth. Clean, healthy teeth help keep the rest of your body healthy and a sparkling smile always helps you look and feel your best.
Following feedings, you can prevent buildup of damaging bacteria by running a damp washcloth over your infant’s gums. To prevent baby bottle decay, avoid nursing children to sleep. If they need a bottle to get to sleep, only use water. Once your child has a few teeth showing, brush them with a soft child’s toothbrush or rub them with a washcloth at the end of the day.
For children younger than one year, brushing without toothpaste is sufficient. If your infant is fussy during brushing time, the taste of an extremely small amount of toothpaste may encourage cooperation. Getting an early start on brushing your infant’s teeth is more important than the brand of toothpaste you purchase. This is because the bacteria which cause cavities are present as soon as the baby teeth erupt.
Toothpastes specially formulated for infants can be beneficial, but they are not absolutely required or necessarily recommended. I recommend using any non-abrasive, non-fluoridated toothpaste until the child is 1 to 2 years old.
A match head-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste should be introduced until the child is 2 to 3 years of age. When toothpaste is used, parents should supervise the brushing and make certain that the child understands that they need to spit out any excess toothpaste. Swallowing excess toothpaste can be dangerous.
Beginning with the eruption of the first tooth, children should see a dentist regularly. The dentist can recommend specific programs of brushing, flossing, diet and other treatments to meet the child’s needs.
An early commitment from parents and your dentist will give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.
