What is cuter than a baby’s smile when those first bottom teeth appear? As a parent you’ll want to keep those tiny pearly whites in tip-top shape. Martin J. Davis, D.D.S., spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), pediatric dentist and father of two, says, “I have heard parents say, ‘baby teeth aren’t important, they are just going to fall out anyway.’ Nothing could be further from the truth.” Baby teeth control the growth pattern of the face and can affect a child’s speech. If the baby teeth become infected the adult teeth that reside below the gum can become misshapen and discolored. Davis has several important recommendations that can help your child have healthy teeth and a beautiful smile.
1 Cut Snacks – Frequent snacking causes a rise of acid in the mouth, which increases the risk for cavities. Snacks include beverages such as apple juice.
2 Stop Using Bottles – Davis says children should be off the bottle by age 1. You should also look to wean them from the sippy cup as soon as possible and refrain from placing a pacifier on a rope around their neck, which in itself is a dangerous practice.
3 Start Dental Hygiene At 6 Months Old – Clean your baby’s teeth with a soft clean washcloth to remove plaque. You can sit down on the floor with the child and do this in a relaxed manner to get the child used to the routine.
4 Brush Their Teeth – Children do not develop the necessary eye/hand coordination to properly brush their teeth until about age 6, so parents should be prepared to do the brushing.
5 Fluoride – Fluoride can promote dental health. Check to see if your tap water is fluorinated. If not, you can obtain fluoride drops for your child. But too much fluoride can cause problems. So if you use toothpaste that also contains fluoride be careful to use a very small amount (pea sized dab) when you brush your child’s teeth.
6 Supervise – As your child becomes old enough to brush by themselves make sure to supervise the process. Introduce flossing as soon as permanent teeth appear and space between the teeth make tight contact.
