Young parents are often overworked and underrested. There are so many different concerns through pregnancy, and it only increases whenever the baby arrives. These parents may believe that their child’s oral health is something they can be a little relaxed a bit about.
After all, how can there be problems with teeth even before their adult set begins to grow? What about before they have grown even a single one? The development of these young smiles actually have a lot to do with how successfully they will grow into the future! Today, your Maple Grove, MN dentist explains how to avoid baby bottle tooth decay, and why that is important for the rest of their lives.
They Need Extra Help
When you’re expecting or if you have a young child, there are a million different health issues for both them and the parents that are consistently on your mind. But some people tend to ignore the risk of decay for their children’s enamel.
Some may think that once the child has lost their infant dental set, that the previous condition no longer matters. However, children’s first teeth set a path that their later growth follows. Protect your child’s smile into the future!
They Are Vulnerable
Since babies don’t have the same ability to swallow and close the mouth as adults do, young children require some additional help to keep their mouth clean. Bottle-feeding is a prime area where cautions should be taken. It is best to avoid using any form of sweetener onto a bottle or pacifier, such as honey or sugar. While that may get them to take it in the short-term, it cannot only damage dental tissue, but also promote poor eating habits as they grow.
Leaving them with a bottle in the crib can cause them to have sugars in their mouth sitting for hours. This means that bacteria are allowed to grow without anything stopping them. And your baby’s immune system certainly has enough to handle on its own! Using a cup itself is a beneficial thing for children to know. Start teaching them by the time they are around 6 months of age. The American Dental Association suggests a switch to a cup by their first birthday.
The Effort Makes A Difference
It might seem obvious now, but there are a lot of problems that can be associated with this condition. Baby bottle tooth decay can lead to discoloration, which often shows as brown splotches that will not wipe away. When this is left untreated, it can cause the child pain, so please do not disregard the symptoms.
This can mean crooked alignment in the future, which will most likely require othodontics for correction. While the situation might have not felt urgent, it can lead to seriously invasive and extensive procedures. So while I know you are always much too short on sleep, it is important to put that little bit of effort into keeping your child’s mouth safe.
Call Us Today!
If you want to learn more about how to keep your little one’s smile safe, please reach out to our team! To schedule an appointment, please call Elm Creek Dental in Maple Grove, MN, today at 763-416-0606.