Ways to Take Care of an Infant's Teeth

Thankfully for breast-feeding mothers, babies are born without teeth. Under the gums, the teeth form small buds and will begin to break through to the real world when the infant is somewhere between 4 months and 6 months old. Proper attention must be given to a child's mouth even in infancy. The habits children learn while they're young will last a lifetime.

The Important Role of Deciduous Teeth

• Many parents have no clue about the crucial role the deciduous teeth, also known as baby teeth, play in forming the permanent teeth their child will get at a later stage. The baby teeth are more than just a pint-sized version to fit their smaller mouth. The baby teeth are space keepers for the adult teeth. Of course, baby teeth allow the child to bite and eat properly, but that is not their sole purpose. Early loss of baby teeth as a result of decay or injury can have devastating effects on the permanent dentition. Baby teeth prematurely lost require space maintaining appliances to be placed in the child's mouth. These appliances are practical but will never replace the child's baby teeth. They only retain the space for the permanent teeth. Practicing proper oral care for children from infancy prevents premature loss of baby teeth with the benefit of teaching the child healthy habits for when she gets older.

Washing Baby's Gums

• A mother can look into her infant's mouth after a feeding and see milk hiding in all of the folds of the mouth. Milk, even mother's milk, contains lactose. Lactose is sugar and turns into bacteria. During infancy, it is necessary, at least once daily, to massage the baby's gums with a soft, wet baby washcloth. This will remove any deposits of lactose that should not be there. It is also advisable to consult with a pediatrician about a prescription for the baby for fluoride drops, especially if the water the baby is getting is not fluorinated. Fluoride has some effect on the deciduous teeth but has a profoundly positive effect on the permanent teeth. Limiting pacifiers is a terrific idea as even the orthodontic pacifiers will cause unwanted movement of the permanent dentition as it erupts.

Brushing a Small Child's Teeth

• Obviously an 18-month-old child is not going to be able to brush her own teeth. However, at this tender age, she has a mouthful of them and they need attention to keep them healthy. A child-size toothbrush will do just fine with a small amount of child's toothpaste. Adult, minty toothpaste can be too strong for a little one to handle and the mint can burn little mouths. Make it a habit to brush the child's teeth at least once a day for as long as she will allow it to be done. Brush the fronts and backs of each of the teeth along with the tongue, as the tongue is where bacteria grows. If the child has some teeth close together, see if she will allow flossing between them. Although babies usually have gaps between the teeth and do not need floss, it is just another way to teach her a good habit at an early age. Fluoride drops should continue, but when the child is old enough, she can be switched to chewable tablets.

Baby Bottle Mouth Syndrome

• Baby bottle syndrome can be devastating for a child as it could result in the loss of all of the deciduous dentition, causing problems for the permanent dentition. Baby bottle mouth is the term used for rampant decay a child gets in his mouth as a result of sleeping with a bottle. Juice bottles contain fructose, and milk contains lactose. Both are sugars, and when a baby sleeps with a bottle, the sugar blankets the teeth all night. It does not take long for the decay to develop and, often, by the time the mother realizes how awful it is, it is out of control. Rampant decay can result in a traumatic experience for a little one. Dental work on small children must be performed by a specialist called a pedodontist. For safety, the child will need to be restrained or sedated or both. A papoose board is commonly used. It is a wrap that pins the child's arms and legs against his body to prevent him from moving, which and can be terribly frightening. Other options are a light sedative of chloral hydrate or potential IV sedation. Baby bottle mouth can be averted with proper home care from the parents