Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

08 Nov Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Did you know that as soon as a child’s teeth sprout through his or her gums then cavities and other types of problems can occur? It’s true. It’s important within a week or two of the baby’s life to begin an oral care routine. It’s easy. Simply wipe the gums, very gently, with a gauze pad. A damp washcloth, especially a soft washcloth, would work, however a gauze pad is soft enough to be safe for a baby’s gum tissue. Without teeth, a baby still has bacteria and plaque building up on their gum tissue. Plaque can cause immediate harm to sprouting teeth.

Why does tooth decay set in easily with infants? Infants are constantly drinking fluids that contain sugars: formula and even breastmilk has sugar. It’s also possible for a mother or father to pass bacteria to a baby. Consider this scenario: a mother and or father tests a baby’s food temperature by tasting it. The bacteria in the mother’s or father’s mouth then jumps to the spoon, which then jumps to the baby’s mouth. No, this doesn’t mean you have to fret about passing on bacteria to your baby, just be aware that a baby’s mouth needs cleaning, too.

As soon as teeth sprout up from a child’s gums, you will want to start brushing the teeth with a toothbrush. Using a tiny, tiny amount of toothpaste—the size of a grain of rice—gently brush a child’s teeth, brushing all the surfaces on the teeth. With the toothbrush, scrub gently in circular motions and in straight strokes over the tops. The more you brush a child’s teeth, the more comfortable the child will become with the daily habit.

Also, when a child’s teeth begin to sprout up in the mouth, it’s time for the child’s first dental visit. Starting a relationship with the dentist early, will not only ensure that a child’s mouth is looked after, but it also sets up a relationship between the dentist and the child, so that hopefully the child won’t grow to become an adolescent, or an adult, who is afraid of going to the dentist.  To set up your first appointment call Silvercreek Family Dentistry today!