Caring for your child's teeth diligently is imperative to making sure her baby teeth stay intact and permanent teeth arrive in good health. The American Academy of Family Physicians points out that proper tooth care starts long before your baby's first ivory white pops through. As soon as you take her home from the hospital, her delicate gums are already subject to a build-up of plaque–the same bacterial film that causes tooth decay in older children and adults.
Birth to First Tooth
Your baby has all 20 primary teeth, most of which are fully developed in the jaw, by the time she's born, according to the Nemours Foundation. A film of bacteria–the same stuff that causes tooth decay–builds up on her gums after each feeding. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, or AAPD, advises using a cloth and water to clean your baby's gums. You can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush designed specifically for infants. Just use water, however; the AAPD doesn't advise using toothpaste until after your child cuts her first baby teeth.
First Tooth to Early Childhood
As soon as your baby gets her first tooth, typically around the age of 6 months, she's at risk for tooth decay, cautions the American Dental Association. The bacteria that cause tooth decay may be inadvertently transferred from you to your baby whenever you clean a feeding spoon or pacifier in your own mouth. But tooth decay is also caused by prolonged exposure to any sugary liquids, such as juice. The AADP advises using a soft, infant-sized toothbrush to clean your baby's emerging primary teeth, using only a smear of fluoride toothpaste, at least twice a day. When your child is between the ages of 2 and 5, place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush and brush your child's teeth yourself–or assist her in her endeavors, as she doesn't have the ability to thoroughly brush at this age. Your child should be able to follow the simple directive to spit out toothpaste, rather than swallowing it.
The Autonomous Child
By the time your child is 6, she should be capable of taking care of her oral hygiene autonomously, according to the ADA. Get your child in the habit of twice-daily brushings and use of dental floss once a day. Provide healthy food types at all stages of development, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and discourage snacking in between meals. Meals should include at least one serving of fruits and vegetables, breads or cereals, milk or another dairy food and meat, fish or eggs, says the AADP. Restrict sugary foods and starches that put your child's teeth at risk for decay.
Troubleshooting Potential Problems
Baby bottle tooth decay is one hazard that afflicts developing baby teeth, causing cavities, gum disease and early loss of baby teeth, says the ADA. Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle, unless it contains water, says the AADP, and avoid nursing your baby to sleep. Avoid dipping pacifiers in honey or sugar. Your child should drink independently from a cup by the time she's 1 year old, says the ADA. Another consideration is the amount of fluoride your baby or toddler receives; insufficient fluoride makes your child more prone to tooth decay. Speak with a dentist or your child's pediatrician to see if fluoride tablets are appropriate for your child.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
Protecting your child's baby teeth from decay is important–healthy baby teeth are needed to your child's speech development, nutrition and the health of the permanent teeth, according to the ADA. As a rule, your child should see the dentist for the first time by age 1, says the AADP, after which she should receive regular check-ups at six-month intervals.
References
- American Dental Association: Baby Teeth
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: Frequently Asked Questions
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Children's Oral Health
- American Dental Association: Baby Bottle Tooth Decay (Early Childhood Tooth Decay)
- FamilyDoctor.org: How to Care for Your Child's Teeth
