It can come as a surprise to many parents, but oral hygiene should be a concern from the moment your child starts teething. Although baby teeth may be temporary, they’re still sensitive and susceptible to cavities. During the early months of their life, a major risk is baby bottle tooth decay, in which a child’s teeth can suffer from damage due to exposure to sugars in liquids. This can cause later problems with healthy adult tooth development, so it’s important to know how to prevent this painful and avoidable condition.

A Guide to Tooth Decay Prevention in Babies & Toddlers

1. Wipe Their Gums Often

To reduce the risk of teething pain and clear away bacteria, wipe your child’s gums after each feeding with a moistened cloth or piece of gauze. Because their gums are still developing, they can be vulnerable to decay-inducing bacteria present on surfaces and in liquids. Luckily, this basic oral hygiene habit will help protect them.

2. Don’t Put a Bottle in the Crib

Allowing your child to sleep with a bottle can expose their teeth and gums to a steady source of sugars, which the body then produces acids to digest. The exposure to both acid and sugar during the overnight hours can weaken young teeth and increase the risk of decay.

3. Brush Gently

It’s never too early to get in the habit of practicing good oral hygiene. When their first teeth come in, brush them gently with a toothbrush made specifically for small children.

You only need an amount of toothpaste about the size of a grain of rice. This will help them get used to the idea of taking care of their teeth daily while removing harmful bacteria and sugars from the beginning.

4. Avoid Sugary Drinks

As your child grows, they might develop a taste for drinks such as juices or sodas, but these should never be placed in a bottle. Not only would doing so encourage a child to become too comfortable with drinking sweet drinks, but it would also expose their teeth to far more sugar than formula or breast milk.

5. Keep Their Pacifier Clean

Pacifiers are invaluable for satisfying children who are teething or just energetic. However, a pacifier is only as good as its cleanliness. Before and after giving it to your child, wipe it clean with a damp cloth. Never dip a pacifier in sweet substances like sugar or honey.

 

To protect your child’s growing teeth and learn more about oral hygiene, turn to the compassionate experts at Alaska Dentistry for Kids, the premier pediatric dentistry practice in Anchorage. Dr. Chris Coplin and his friendly staff are committed to providing gentle, comprehensive dental care to kids of all ages in a relaxed, calm atmosphere. Learn more about their extensive range of services online or call (907) 274-2525 to book an appointment today.