The Importance Of Infant Dental Care
Why You Should Start Dental Hygiene Early
Creating healthy dental habits during infant and toddler stages will set your child up for a lifetime of proper dental hygiene. Baby teeth guide permanent adult teeth into proper position and allow children to eat and speak clearly. Dental care includes cleaning gums and should begin before your baby's teeth even come in. Early childhood tooth decay is the development of cavities in children from ages 6 months to 6 years old. The damage from decay can cause pain and infection in the child’s mouth and can cause harm to the adult tooth or teeth below. Some contributions to childhood tooth decay include:
- Regular eating of sticky or sugary foods- When sugars are ate or drank and remain in the mouth for a long period of time, the bacteria in your child’s mouth will mix with the sugar and create a mild acid. This acid will then invade the enamel, or outer layer of the tooth and form cavities.
- Constant use of bottles or sippy cups during bed time- When a child goes to bed drinking milk or juice, the sugars will then remain on the teeth throughout the night creating the same problem as if they ate sugars without brushing before bed.
- Not brushing your child’s teeth regularly- Without a proper tooth brushing routine, a child’s mouth will hold bacteria and plaque causing both tooth decay and gum disease. Children and adults should brush their teeth twice a day, in the morning and before bed.
- Not using fluoride toothpaste- Fluoride can help rebuild weakened tooth enamel and can help to reverse the early stages of tooth decay. It exerts antibacterial properties that can prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth and growing.
Regular dental visits should begin 6 months after your child’s first tooth comes in. With routine cleanings and check ins, not only will your child have healthy dental hygiene but this can help to eliminate any dental anxieties in the future. Kenneth R. Banas is dedicated to infant child care in the Buffalo, Orchard Park, and West Seneca, NY areas. Dental problems such as early childhood tooth decay can be avoided with the help of parents creating a healthy dental hygiene routine with their children. Give our team a call today to get your child’s dental schedule started!
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