Never too young to begin brushing your child’s teeth. Starting children on the road to good dental health now will ensure that they have a radiant, healthy smile as they age.
Naturally, the journey to safeguarding their pearly whites begins even before they erupt into adult teeth. The following are three easily avoidable major contributors to oral health issues in infants and young children.
It is always better to consult a children’s dentist in Cumming, GA, earlier if you notice any signs of tooth decay in your child’s teeth.
- The Thumb-Suck
There aren’t many cuter things than a baby nodding off while holding their thumb in their mouth. It’s not typical to thumb-suck, but it can help babies go asleep. Thumb-sucking during the day can be problematic, even though it shouldn’t cause tooth issues if it just occurs before bed.
In most cases, your child’s dental abnormalities with their primary teeth will disappear once their permanent adult teeth appear. Thumb-sucking excessively or aggressively can, however, cause several issues, including an overbite (front teeth sticking out), an open bite (top and bottom teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed), and pointing inward of the bottom teeth, etc.
- Pacifiers
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry actually advises using pacifiers instead of thumb-sucking due to their many advantages. According to research, pacifiers can reduce hospital stays by aiding with pain management after surgical procedures. Along with being simpler for kids to give up as they get older, pacifiers are also thought to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
However, many experts contend that using pacifiers past a year can impair a child’s ability to develop language abilities since it discourages the practice of vocalization.
- Rot in bottles
It is known as bottle rot when your infant’s baby teeth start to become infected. Typically, young children who are holding a bottle in their mouth while they are asleep experience this. Bacteria that cause acid are created by sugar-containing beverages, including milk, formula, and juice. The good news is that there are many approaches you may use to stop bottle rot.
The best course of action is to begin giving your infant a bottle of water during naps and bedtime while also limiting the amount of sugar they ingest daily. A clean washcloth can be used to wipe your baby’s gums and baby teeth after feeding. It’s best not to dunk a pacifier in honey, sugar, or another sweetener.
