Promoting good oral health early is important for today’s toddlers. A child's baby teeth are called "primary teeth," and maintain space for permanent teeth, allow your child to chew properly and aid proper speech development. Missing or decayed primary teeth can slow both language and social development. Also, early loss of primary teeth can lead to "crowding" and alignment problems as the permanent teeth come in.
It's important to take care of your baby's teeth and gums. Before a baby gets his first tooth, clean his gums with a damp cloth after every feeding. Once that first tooth comes in (or "erupts"), use a soft toothbrush for cleaning.
Pacifiers can help your baby (and you) get through periods of crankiness, crying and pain. Just make sure never to dip them in sweet liquids such as juice or milk. The sugars react to the bacteria in the mouth creating acid that causes decay. Also, be sure to regularly wash pacifiers in warm, soapy water and rinse well.
Letting your child fall asleep with a bottle that contains juice, milk or pop can pose another risk for her oral health. Bacteria in the mouth can convert the contents of the bottle to acid, which attacks tooth surfaces and causes decay.
In addition to keeping your baby's mouth clean, regular dental visits are a necessary step in caring for her smile. It is now recommended that parents take their children to a dental professional by age 1. During this first visit, your child's dentist will help you understand risk factors for dental decay. You'll learn about the use of pacifiers, diet, bottle-feeding, basic oral hygiene and appropriate fluoride applications.
Source and thanks to www.desmoinesregister.com.
Nigel Denby's comment:
Wouldn't it make sense for dentists to make a first appointment for a child FREE to encourage parents to start off on the right foot? I am sure many parents wouldn't think of taking a child of one to the dentist so surely this is missed opportunity- promote it to parents to improve the next generations' dental health, and the dentists gain more patients- everyone's a winner!
