Bottles and oral health
When it comes to your baby's oral health, it's easy to overlook. Your baby may only have gums, one, or a few teeth, and since they're baby teeth, how important are they really? Answer? Very important. In fact, if your baby takes a bottle, baby bottle tooth decay is a danger to your child's oral health, and if left untreated can cause pain or infection.
If your child's teeth become infected and are lost earlier than normal, this may impact her future health, from crooked adult teeth to damaged teeth.
Use these simple tips to help combat baby bottle tooth decay and start implementing healthy routines at an early age.
How to keep your baby's mouth healthy:
- Clean and massage gums
- Wipe gums with a clean washcloth after feedings
- When your child's first tooth comes in, brush the tooth and gums gently without toothpaste or use a fluoride-free paste
- Once your child's teeth have all come in, start flossing
- Fluoride is important to your child's mouth health; talk to your dentist to see if your child needs a supplement, especially if your water does not contain any
- When your child turns one, start going to the dentist regularly
- Never fill your baby's bottle with sugary drinks and juices; bottles are for milk, water, or formula, and gums should still be cleaned after milk
- Don't put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk; the sugars will sit on her teeth at night. Instead, choose a bottle of water
- Be mindful of what you're feeding your child; reduce sugar in her daily meals and snacks
It's never too late to break unhealthy habits; talk to your dentist about the best oral health plan for your baby. By establishing healthy habits early on, you're setting your child up for healthy adult teeth!
