The teeth are one of the most things to take care of because it is one of the first things that is seen when people meet. Having healthy teeth is very important and it should be started at an early age. Having healthy dental habits is important. There are a number of things that must be done to ensure that the teeth stay healthy.
Failing to take care of the teeth can result in spending a lot of money on dental clinics or even surgery. The pain people experience when having a toothache is too much. Having these healthy dental habits is not hard since they can be easily incorporated into daily routine. Children should be taught at an early age until it fully becomes a habit.
When you start noticing that your babies teeth are on the way, you need to immediately start taking care of them. It is important to know the right way to do it or you may end up hurting or making the baby feel uncomfortable. Even these set of teeth will be around for a short period of time, you have to take care of them and ensure that your baby’s teeth get the best care possible. How can you ensure that your are caring for baby teeth?
Start before teeth come in
You can start by cleaning the mouth of the baby before the teeth come in. After every meal, wipe the gums off using a warm and wet washcloth or dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. There are also some devices that can be used to clean the mouth and can be purchased at a nearby baby shop. Do not be afraid to ask for help from a qualified professional if you are not sure on how to clean the mouth.
Take care of them right away
When you notice that the baby has started growing some teeth, then you should make an effort of starting to take care of them within the shortest time possible. There are some people who usually see no importance in taking care of the teeth because they will be eventually replaced with permanent teeth. These teeth are important because they reserve the space for permanent teeth and they are important for chewing and talking. If they are not taken care of, they can decay and lead to gum infections known as gingivitis. These infections can affect the spacing of permanent teeth.
Avoid cavities
Discolorations and minor pitting as some of the early signs of cavities in baby teeth. There are some habits that have been known to cause cavities. Some of them include putting the baby to bed with a bottle of milk. Avoid leaving the infant with a bottle for long periods of time, especially if he/she is starting to use the bottle for comfort and no longer feeding. The best way to ensure you are doing the right thing is consulting a professional who can help you out.
Follow meals with water
Most of the food your baby is taking can easily be washed off with drinking water after every meal. But it is best to introduce a toothbrush as soon as possible (the toothbrush should be very soft). Starting it early can help the baby easily start getting used to it in the mouth.
You don’t actually need to use the toothbrush to clean the baby’s teeth until he/she can start eating table foods. However, you need to gently clean the teeth of the baby using a toothbrush that has a thimble-like a cleaner. If you baby has eaten sugary or sticky food, it might be a good idea to use bicarbonate of soda.
Start brushing using toothpaste at Age 2
When the baby reaches two years, you should start using non-fluoride toothpaste to brush. It is best to use a pea-size amount of toothpaste. When the child is old enough not to swallow toothpaste, then you should introduce the fluoride type, this is usually at the age of three.
Regulate the intake of fluoride
Even though your baby has not yet started using fluoride toothpaste, he/she should be getting enough amounts of fluoride. Fluoride is important in preventing tooth decay. Many communal water supplies usually have fluoride added, and the baby can get it from drinking tap water. Ask your doctor about fluoride supplement that the baby can take if the water supply has not been fluoridated. The supplements can also be important if the baby doesn’t drink tap water.
Schedule dental exams
Different people have different takes when it comes to this issue. The American Dental Associations recommends that a baby should get their first dental exam at age 1, but many paediatricians agree that this can be done when the baby is 3 years old, provided you practice good home care.
The health of your baby teeth will largely depend on what he/she is eating and if you follow the above tips to caring for baby teeth. The main cause of tooth decay is sugar. It not only the amount of sugar that plays a part but also how often it is drunk or eaten throughout the day.
When a person eats something sugary, it will start to break the mineral surface of the teeth. The teeth can recover from the baby eating something sugary, but it can take hours to do so. Eating sugar throughout the day means the teeth have no time to repair themselves. Caring for baby teeth is not hard when you know the right thing to do.
