Have you ever wondered why we have 2 sets of teeth? Baby’s tooth usually appears around 6 months, and by age 3, all 20 baby teeth are usually in. When the first tooth appears, that’s a great time to bring your child to the dentist. The first visit is a valuable one to educate parents about baby teeth and how to maintain good oral health throughout their childhood.
Your dentist will review how to clean your baby’s teeth and how to help prevent cavities in your young child’s teeth. Unfortunately, tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease in America, and yet it is almost 100% preventable.
Benefits and Roles of Baby Teeth
Baby teeth play a key role in your child’s health and development.
- They help your baby chew food properly
- They help them speak clearly
- They hold a pace in the mouth for permanent teeth
- Healthy baby teeth set the stage for a lifetime of good oral health.
Baby teeth remain in the mouth until the adult tooth is ready to push through that space. Baby teeth usually start falling out between age 5-7 and typically are all out by age 12, but there is lots of variability. Even though they are temporary, it doesn’t mean they can be neglected In fact, baby teeth are as vulnerable to cavities as adult teeth, and cavities are painful.
Tooth decay can cause a baby’s teeth to fall out too early, which causes spacing problems in the mouth. It is essential to start early with good oral hygiene. Even before a 1st tooth erupts,make it part of your routine to brush your baby’s gums with gauze or a washcloth. This gets baby used to the brushing action. Once the first teeth appear, use a soft bristled toothbrush, but no toothpaste is needed this early. If your dentist feels your baby has a higher risk to develop tooth decay due to diet, hygiene or lack of fluoride in the drinking water, they may suggest using a smear of fluoride toothpaste. At age 3, use a pea sized amount of toothpaste, since infants and toddlers tend to swallow most of the toothpaste.
Avoiding Tooth Decay in Babies
Here are some practical steps to avoid tooth decay in your baby:
- Don’t put them to sleep with a bottle containing any type of sugar such as milk, formula, juice
- When introducing solid foods, choose age appropriate snacks that are healthy and good for teeth, like yogurt, cheese, peeled apple slices, cereal like cheerios that are easily dissolved.
The first step on the road to good oral health is taking care of your child’s baby teeth. Set the pace early on to give them the best chance to enjoy a lifetime of good oral health, because THAT is something to smile about!
For further information, visit us at www.deltadentalnj.com
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