We maintain a strong oral health regimen in order to protect ourselves and prevent the growth of bacteria within our mouths. While we inherently know this to be important and useful, sometimes parents may feel that their child’s first set of teeth might be a little less important. But that is hardly true, as young smiles are developing a roadmap for their dental future.
Parents may also be unaware of how to properly care for a young infant’s gums and incoming teeth, as well. With just a little bit of effort, you can keep your child safe and give them all the advantages you possibly can. So today, your Grapevine, TX dentist explains baby bottle tooth decay, some common symptoms, as well as some helpful tips to help you avoid an uncomfortable situation. And give your child a beautiful and healthy natural smile for years to come!
What Is It?
Baby bottle tooth decay refers to the bacterial infection of young mouths, before their adult dental matter has fully formed. Infants are also still susceptible to periodontal disease, in addition. This is the infection of gum tissue, and can lead to problems such as infection and loss. So it is important to monitor and maintain their smile from an early age.
If you begin to notice brown staining during cleaning, and it will not wipe away, give your oral health provider a call. It’s always better to have an extra examination than to overlook something that could be serious. These issues can also cause pain and discomfort in the little one, so please do not ignore these signs.
A Base For The Future
A child’s first set of teeth are much more than simple placeholders until you grow your adult ones. Instead, they create a sort of trail that can influence the direction of incoming structures. Essentially, this means that in any instance where a young person loses this material prematurely, the next ones can grow in erratically.
This can lead to serious problems in alignment later on, and may result in intrusive orthodontic work. By taking care of their young mouths, you might save in the pocketbook as well as in time and energy.
Take The Steps
Much in the way of avoiding baby bottle tooth decay comes in keeping a rigorous oral health habit. Children are not born with the ability to swallow the entire contents of their mouth, which leaves bits of food in every recess. So please wipe down their gums after they’ve finished bottle feeding.
And it may be difficult to get them to take the nipple or pacifier, but never use sugar or honey as an incentive for them. This may not only cause damage immediately, it has been shown to cause lasting damage to their eating habits and metabolism. Leaving the bottle with them in the crib can be harmful, too. We understand that you want them to be fully fed, but milk or formula that rests in the mouth for extended periods of time can be especially harmful.
Questions? Give Us A Call!
It is very important for you to take care of your child’s new smile. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please reach out to Share Dentistry in Grapevine, TX today by calling 817-329-6000.
