If you have a baby, you should be taking preventative measures to ensure that they don't develop baby bottle tooth decay. Tooth decay can form as soon as the first tooth emerges, especially if you don't provide special care for them. Tooth decay forms when sweetened liquids pool around the delicate teeth in your little one's mouth. Formula, juices, and sweetened waters can all cause tooth decay. Here are five steps you should take to prevent your little one from developing baby bottle tooth decay.
Limit Bedtime Bottles
One of the best ways to prevent baby bottle tooth decay is to limit bedtime bottles. When babies go to bed with a bottle filled with sugary liquids – including milk or formula – the liquid can pool around their teeth and destroy the delicate enamel. When that happens, decay can set in. Try to take the bottle away from your little one as soon as they're asleep. If you need to give them a bottle for nap time, try to stick to clear water.
Start Early
Proper dental care should begin almost as soon as your baby is born. Begin by wetting a small piece of medical gauze and gently wipe your baby's gums. Be sure to get between the cheeks, and lips and the gums to remove the sugar that could be building up in your little one's mouth. You should repeat this at least twice a day. Not only will it keep your baby's mouth clean, but it will also prepare them for when you start brushing their teeth.
Brush Often
As soon as your baby has their first tooth, you should start brushing it. Dip a soft baby tooth brush into clear water and brush the tooth at least twice a day. Rub the brush along the gums as well. This will help massage the gums to keep them strong and will remove cavity-causing sugar and bacteria from your little one's mouth.
Floss Daily
One tooth is plenty for flossing purposes. Once your little one has that first tooth, you should start flossing it. Just use a small piece of floss to clean the area around the tooth and get below the gum line. Flossing your baby's teeth as they grow in will help develop strong teeth and healthy gums. It will also help lay the foundation for a lifetime of proper dental hygiene for your little one.
See the Dentist
Once your baby has their first tooth, you should schedule a visit to the dentist. Experts say that babies should have their first dental visit by their first birthday, or within six months of their first tooth emerging. Early visits to the dentist will allow them to monitor how well your baby's teeth are developing, and identify potential problems early on.
Baby bottle tooth decay can destroy your baby's teeth. Use the steps provided above to help prevent dental problems. Be sure to speak to your dentist about other helpful ways to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Contact a clinic like Northwest Dental Services and Implant Center for more information.
Share17 June 2016
Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.