We often hand over a bottle of milk, juices, or other sweet liquids to babies to keep them from crying. This habit can lead to tooth decay. Take care to wipe your infant’s mouth after she has been fed. Do not let your baby sleep with a bottle of sweet liquid.

Baby bottle decay is also known as early childhood caries or nursing caries. The immediate symptom is pain but its long-term consequences include improper development of permanent teeth. Do not 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!

Is thumb-sucking normal?

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.

When should I stop breastfeeding?

You should start weaning your child before she turns one. Breastfeeding may become difficult once your baby starts chewing with her new teeth; hence, it is better to start weaning after she develops her first tooth. You can move from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding after 8-10 months. However, every child is different; thus, consult your pediatrician before you decide to wean your child.

When should be my baby’s first visit to the dentist?

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.

When should I contact my doctor or dentist?

• You should immediately contact your doctor if your baby has fever when he is teething.
• You should consult your dentist if you would like to know how much fluoride should the baby intake.
• You should take your child to the dentist if she feels pain in teeth or gums.

Happy smiling!

Tooth decay can begin from as early as the appearance of the first tooth. In fact, the stage for tooth decay can be set even before a tooth becomes visible. It is important that you take care of the oral hygiene of your child from the first few days of his birth. This post will take you through the basic steps of oral hygiene that will help prevent decay and disease in your child’s mouth.

Day one to six months

• Wipe your baby’s gums with a soft cloth after every feed.
• Clean the baby’s tongue regularly with a soft cloth or a tongue-brush meant for infants.

Six months to a year

The first tooth of your baby will appear somewhere after six months and before her first birthday.

• Start brushing your baby’s when she gets her first tooth.
• Do not let the baby sleep with a bottle containing anything other than water.
• Brush the baby’s teeth before she goes to bed.
• Discontinue breast feeding by the time he is one year old.
• Replace the bottle with the cup; this helps prevent nursing caries.

A year till the appearance of all primary teeth

Once your child gets all her twenty primary teeth, you need to start taking care of her teeth the way you would take care of yours.

• Apart from daily brushing, floss your child’s teeth regularly.
• Give your baby a balanced diet.
• From the appearance of all her primary teeth, take your child to the dentist every six months.
• Start imbibing healthy eating habits in your child.
• Teach your child to rinse her mouth after every meal or snack.

Dental health in children leads to proper jaw growth, helping define the child’s facial features. Tooth decay during childhood can cause several teeth problems in your child’s adult life. Imbibe good dental and healthy eating habits in your child from the very beginning.

Happy smiling!