Show Me Those Pearly Whites
Your baby is teething but the teeth haven’t broken through the
surface yet. What can you do as a parent to protect them and help them to be as
healthy as possible?
Bottles can be delicious and your
baby will be sure to want one on hand at all times. Be cautious with this
however, (unless it is only water), because the milk or juice resting on moist,
warm gums can encourage bacteria growth. Gingivitis can attack the gums before
your baby even has his/her teeth peeking through and haunt the development of
your baby’s teeth. After your baby has drank his bottle, remove it, and take a
wet gauze and gently wipe the gums. You can make this into a memory maker by
singing a fun song, or telling a funny story during the cleaning. When the
shiny, white teeth make their appearance begin using a very, soft toothbrush to
gently massage the teeth and gums.
In those moments when you are not
near the bathroom sink and have given your baby a bottle or carbohydrates don’t
panic. It is suggested that just keeping your baby awake for fifteen minutes
after finishing his milk or juice will enable the natural increase of saliva that
helps to self-clean. Another thought is that feeding a piece of cheese helps to
rid the mouth of sugars and acids by increasing the saliva, thereby decreasing
the process of decay.
Some say “What is the worry, a baby’s
teeth fall out anyway?” Providing
healthy tooth care is important because what happens to early teeth will affect
the permanent teeth when they make their appearance. Gingivitis can infect and
the new permanent teeth may be compromised, misshaped and susceptible to
bacteria and cavities.
Choose a recommended dentist. Some dentists take children as
well as adults. This is my personal favorite because your children can watch
you having your teeth cleaned and learn that what Mommy and Daddy do is alright.
The dentist can provide some positive ideas and form a relationship so that
when your baby is old enough to have his/her own teeth cleaned, it will be a
visit they look forward to.
So start today with your baby, monitoring the bottle time
and beginning good oral hygiene. Hopefully these practices will instill
lifelong habits and eliminate unnecessary visits to the dentist. How wonderful
to have your child consistently walk away from a dental exam with the comment, “Another perfect check-up!”
Caution: Be sure your child is able to
safely eat cheese before feeding it to him/her.
http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/teething/healthy-teeth.aspx
http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/teething/
http://www.wda.org/your-oral-health/baby-teeth-matter
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/02/children-oral-health.aspx
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