Early intervention and diligent home care are the foundations for a healthy smile.
Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth. Children need their teeth to chew food, speak correctly and, of course, to have a cute smile.If a baby tooth is lost too early, the other teeth can shift to fill the space and when it is time for the adult teeth to come in, there may not be enough room. This can cause the permanent teeth to come in crooked. Crooked teeth can be more difficult to keep clean, which can lead to future dental problems.
It is important to begin a dental regimen as soon as the first tooth begins to pop through your baby’s gums. Gently brush their teeth (or tooth) 2 times a day with an infant toothbrush and warm water.
Never put juice, soda or sports drinks in your baby’s bottle and make sure your baby finishes eating before putting him or her to bed. The constant flow of milk dripping into a baby’s mouth while they sleep is almost guaranteed to cause cavities.
As soon as your child is able to understand to spit and not swallow toothpaste, you can begin brushing their teeth twice a day with a toddler toothbrush and a pea sized amount of ‘training toothpaste’. At about age 6, children should be able to brush on their own with just a little help from you.
