Do you know that the milk teeth lay the foundation for one’s permanent teeth? Milk teeth determine the way a child’s face will appear when she grows up. In spite of the importance attached to milk teeth, parents are found to be ignorant about the dental care needs of their children. In today’s post, we will look at a few pointers for dental care in infants and children.

• Remember to wipe you infant’s mouth after you have fed her.

• Use a baby tongue-brush or a soft cloth to clean your infant’s tongue.
• Do not think fever and vomiting are normal when your child is teething. Take her to the pediatrician immediately.
• Take your child to the dentist when she develops her first tooth.
• Do not give your baby a bottle of milk or some other sweet liquid when she sleeps. This may cause tooth decay also known as baby bottle decay.
• Provide your child food rich in calcium. Feed dairy products and other calcium-rich foods like tofu, spinach, broccoli, almonds, sesame, salmon, and sardines.
• Discourage your child from sucking her thumb. Try to make her stop doing it completely after the age of six.
• Never ignore a problem in your child’s teeth. Take your child immediately to the dentist.

You may find this unbelievable but even a child who has only one tooth can develop cavities. Dental care in children is not much different from that in adults. However, you may need to pay a little more attention to your child’s dental care needs and problems.

Happy smiling!

Tags: Children, Dental Care, infants