• Is it normal for a child to fall ill when she is teething?
  All children do not fall ill when they are teething. However, cases of diarrhea, fever and vomiting have been noticed when children teeth. It is not necessarily associated with teething. Don’t consider any kind of illness normal. Visit your pediatrician for advice on taking care of your infant if he/she is ill.
• What is baby bottle decay?
  Babies are often handed over a bottle of milk, juices or other sweet liquids as they go to sleep to keep them from crying. This habit can lead to tooth decay. This is also referred to as baby bottle decay. It is important that you don’t keep the baby exposed to sweet liquids for a long time. As a nursing mother, you should also take care of your own dental health; if you have cavities, the bacteria responsible for it can infect your baby too. It may sound strange but cavities are infectious!
• When should my baby’s first visit to the dentist be?
  Take your child to the dentist when her first tooth appears. Thereafter, in consultation with your dentist, you may take her for check-ups every six months.
• Is it important to take care of my baby’s milk teeth?
  People often do not pay much attention to the care of primary teeth thinking that they will soon be replaced by permanent teeth. It is important to understand that the teeth give shape to a child’s face. They are the building blocks of the child’s visuals as well as the foundation for his/her permanent teeth.
• Is it ok if my baby keeps sucking her thumb?
  Thumb-sucking is typically observed in babies up to the age of two. However, you should dissuade your child from it after that age. Some children suck their thumbs or pacifiers even after their fourth birthday. Though it may not cause any problem in all cases, it is better not to let your child suck her thumb when her permanent teeth start appearing.

  Do not be too harsh on your child for thumb-sucking; the habit is perfectly normal. Thumb-sucking or chewing a pacifier gives your child a sense of emotional security. Thus, in order to stop her from thumb-sucking or pacifier-chewing, you need to provide her with more emotional support instead of scolding her.

Tags: Children, dental care in children