As a parent, you hopefully want your child to be not only happy, but also healthy. From providing them with a good stable home life to preparing healthy meals and ensuring they get a good education, the tasks involved with being a good parent can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, many parents do not make their child's oral health an importance, which can lead to unappealing, unhealthy, and incomplete smiles. With this guide, you will learn a few questions to ask regarding your child's smile and underlying oral health.
Are Baby Teeth That Important?
One of the most common misconceptions parents believe is that their child's baby teeth are not important. Since these teeth do fall out, it is easy to see why you may not place much emphasis on caring for these teeth. However, baby teeth are just as important as the permanent teeth your child will develop.
Baby teeth act as the early support system for the rest of your child's smile. If the baby teeth become infected, start to decay, or even fall out too soon, the permanent teeth will not erupt in a proper, efficient manner. This can affect your child's ability to eat, speak, and even have a healthy, straight smile once the adult teeth come in.
How Do I Care for My Baby's Teeth?
Once you understand the importance of your child's baby teeth, you should ask about proper oral hygiene for your young child. While surprising to learn, brushing your child's teeth should start as soon as they develop their very first tooth.
It may seem silly to use an actual toothbrush to brush one tooth, but there are many dental tools and supplies designed for caring for a baby or young child's oral health. A piece of gauze, for instance, can be used to quickly and effectively remove food and bacteria from your baby's tooth.
When more teeth erupt, invest in a soft-bristled brush designed for infants. Also, make sure to apply a small amount of pediatric toothpaste to the toothbrush. This toothpaste contains fluoride, which helps strengthen your child's tooth enamel.
What About Bottle Use?
Most parents disagree on when to break their child's habit of drinking from a bottle. It is important to note that sucking on a bottle could affect your child's dental development. Most experts recommend weening your baby off the bottle by the time they turn one years old. Sipping water and milk from a sippy cup instead of a bottle will be a healthier option.
Speak to your family dentist to learn more.
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