Measures Parents Can Take To Protect Their Child's Teeth

The primary teeth, which are called baby teeth, are eventually lost in a natural shedding process. Still, it is important to properly care for the primary teeth, or they can cause long-term oral health issues.

The primary teeth guide the placement of the incoming permanent teeth. If a primary tooth is lost ahead of schedule, the adjacent teeth may shift into the open space left by the missing tooth. As a result, the adult tooth that eventually presents to replace the lost baby tooth may not be able to erupt in a straight alignment. 

Also, primary teeth can spread decay to the adult teeth that are still below the gingival surface. In severe cases of decay, an infection may develop and spread to the jawbone. 

Here are a few measures that parents can take to keep their child's teeth in optimal condition.

Start Cleaning the Mouth as Soon as Teeth Appear

A baby may start to teethe when they are only a few months old. Some parents may feel that oral hygiene is unnecessary at such a young age. However, dental decay is not age-dependent.

Once a tooth breaks through the gums, it is exposed to the acids that develop in the mouth. Even the oral cavity of a young baby may host damaging oral bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, which release decay-causing acid as they feed. 

The microbes metabolize simple sugars in the youngsters from mouth from milk, juice, or baby food. They then produce the acid as a byproduct of their digestion.

Plaque, which is a combination of the microbes, their biofilm, and food, sticks to the surfaces of the baby's mouth and emits the acids that demineralize the teeth to cause cavities. As a baby's mouth is cleared of plaque, the likelihood of decay declines. 

To clean a baby's mouth, you can simply wipe the gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or a finger brush. It is best to clean the little one's mouth immediately after they eat. 

Wean From the Bottle

Many babies continue to feed from a bottle as they enter toddlerhood. However, the earlier that a child can be weaned from bottle-feeding, the better. 

Bottle-feeding allows the bottle's contents, which may include milk or juice, to rest on the teeth for prolonged periods. As the teeth are bathed in sugary liquids, severe dental decay may result. 

You can begin to wean a baby by only allowing pure water in the child's bottle and offering other liquids in a cup. Over time, the little one will transition to the cup only.

For more ways to protect your child's teeth, schedule a consultation with a pediatric dentist in your local area, such as at Little Peoples Dentistry.