You want to give your baby the best start possible in life and this includes making sure you do all you can to take care of their teeth from the start. Therefore, educate yourself on baby teeth and the ways they can become damaged so you know what to watch for and how to care properly for them. The information below will give you some information on your baby's first teeth, habits that can damage them and what you can do to properly care for them.
First teeth are very important
Don't underestimate the importance of your child's first teeth, they play an important role in the development of their permanent teeth. Their first teeth save space in the gums for the permanent teeth and pave the way for them, making a clear pathway for the second set to follow.
When bottles can damage teeth
There are certain things you should not do when your baby is taking the bottle. You don't want to allow your baby to go to sleep with a bottle in their crib. If you do, then they can fall asleep with formula or juice in their mouth where it will pool around their gums and cause tooth decay. It's important to note that tooth decay can occur in baby teeth before they have come out of the gums.
When pacifiers can cause problems
Pacifiers can be very helpful when it comes to keeping a fussy baby calm or helping to soothe your baby to sleep. However, you should stop your little one from using the pacifier before they get too dependent on it. Ongoing use of a pacifier can cause your child's teeth to be forced out which can cause an unnatural bite if they continue using it beyond the age of 3 or 4. This can cause problems that increases the possibility of your child needing braces in the future.
When thumb sucking poses risks
When an infant sucks their thumb it's not a problem. It will help them to stay calm and relaxed in the same way a pacifier will. However, once your baby gets older and starts using their hands, they will be putting a lot of germs in their mouth along with their thumb. Also, their teeth can become damaged in the same way they can with a pacifier if they continue sucking their thumb well into toddlerhood.
Now that you understand how your baby's habits can affect their teeth, you will want to watch these things more closely and put an end to certain habits before damage can be done. For further assistance, contact a local dentist, such as one from Family Dental Center TriCities, PC.
Share13 November 2015
Do you have "bad teeth"? I do. Ever since I was a kid, every checkup turns up a number of issues ranging from cavities to dental fractures. It has always been frustrating to keep my smile in decent shape, which is one of the reasons I started focusing on understanding different dental problems. I wanted to know what I was getting into when I visited the doctor, so I began focusing on learning as much as I could. I wanted to create this blog all about dentistry so that other people could find out what to expect when they head to the dentist. Check it out!
