Your child’s first teeth are essential to the health of their permanent teeth, as well as the foundation for their lifelong health. — Photos: TNS
Seeing your baby’s first tooth is an exciting milestone.
Most little ones will get their first (primary) teeth around six months of age, though tiny teeth can emerge as early as three months.
Did you know cavities can develop as soon as your baby has teeth?
Since baby teeth will eventually fall out, it might not seem that important to take good care of them.
Surprisingly, your child’s first teeth are essential to the health of their permanent teeth – and the foundation for lifelong health.
Cavities still common
Cavities can form when the shiny surface of our teeth – the enamel – is harmed by common bacteria living in our mouths.
The bacteria feed on sugary substances left behind from what we eat and drink.
In the process, they create acids that attack tooth enamel, opening the door for tooth decay.
Even the natural sugars in breast milk and formula can kickstart the process of tooth decay.
And even though primary teeth start falling out when kids are around six years old, what happens before then will influence your child’s dental health over the long term.
Research shows proper diet and dental hygiene habits during a child’s infant and toddler years reduce the risk of tooth decay as they become older.
Even though we have made great strides in preventing tooth decay, it is the most common chronic health problem in children.
In fact, 23% of all kids will get cavities before their fifth birthday.
Consider that:
- Decayed baby teeth may need to be taken out by the dentist, which can be painful and frightening for your child (and costly for your family)
- Missing baby teeth leave gaps, causing nearby teeth to shift around. This can keep your child’s permanent teeth from coming in correctly, which might mean braces later.
- Kids (and adults) need healthy teeth to speak clearly and chew their food thoroughly, the first step in healthy digestion. A bright, shining smile gives a child confidence, too – an essential part of making friends, getting along in school and enjoying life.
Preventive steps
Here are steps recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for preventing cavities in babies and young children.
Avoid putting your baby to sleep with a bottle, as it allows sugar from the milk to linger on the teeth. — AFPPutting your child to sleep with a bottle allows the sugars found in formula and breast milk to linger on teeth, setting the stage for tooth decay.
(In fact, many doctors and dentists refer to early cavities as baby bottle tooth decay).
Tooth decay-causing bacteria can easily move from mouth to mouth.
So, for example, you should avoid putting a pacifier in your mouth and then giving it to your child, or tasting your baby’s food before offering them a bite from the same spoon.
Even before your infant’s first teeth breakthrough, it is important to get into a healthy routine.
Wipe the gums with a clean, damp washcloth or gauze pad after each feeding.
When baby teeth come in, switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush with a smear (about the size of a grain of rice) of fluoride toothpaste.
Around your child’s first birthday, create a healthy routine of brushing two times daily for two minutes each time.
Consider setting up a bedtime routine of brushing your child’s teeth after their last feed, reading them a book and then getting them to bed at a regular bedtime, i.e. brush, book, bed.
Studies suggest that breastfeeding during a child’s first year can help reduce the risk of tooth decay by half.
This may be because of other effects breast milk has on the immune system or microbiome (the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut).
Still, whether you give your baby breast milk or formula, you should wipe their gums and any erupting teeth after feedings to minimise the risk of decay.
Teaching young ones to drink from a cup can help prevent tooth decay.
Plan to begin moving your child from the breast or bottle to a lidded cup around 12 months of age.
Milk, breast milk and formula can be given at mealtimes, but fill your child’s cup with plain water in between.
When little ones get fussy, it’s tempting to offer them a little formula or milk, but this exposes little teeth to sugars for long periods.
Use a regular pacifier to calm your child, but be sure not to dip it in honey or any other sweetener.
Fruit juice, soft drinks and sweetened drinks aren’t good for your little one’s teeth.
In fact, the AAP does not recommend juice for babies under 12 months.
After that, limit juices to four ounces (118 millilitres) per day and mix them with water (half-water, half-juice is best).
Sticky foods that promote tooth decay include raisins and other dried fruits, gummy candies, taffy, fruit roll-ups, and snack bars with honey or molasses.
Try to limit these foods in your child’s diet and have kids brush or rinse with plain water after eating them.
Regular tap water, which usually contains fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel, is the healthiest drink for your child’s teeth.
Drinking plenty of water cleanses your child’s mouth and helps maintain saliva flow, which also washes away decay-causing bacteria.
Decades of studies have shown that fluoride is a superhero in fighting tooth decay.
Most kids get the fluoride they need from tap water and toothpaste that delivers fluoride.
Your paediatrician or dentist may also apply a fluoride varnish to your child’s teeth – a helpful step two to four times a year that can continue as your child grows.
Professional help
Make water the drink of choice in your family to help maintain good dental health for everyone.
When your baby’s first tooth appears, it is time to schedule their first dental visit.
This is the ideal time to learn more about dental care for kids and what you will need to do as they grow.
Over time, your dentist can help you set up a healthy family routine, explaining everything from how to teach little hands to brush and floss to fitting young athletes with the right mouthguard.
Since babies see the doctor several times before their first birthday, paediatricians should check inside little mouths.
It can be difficult to spot warning signs in baby teeth, so your paediatrician’s expert eye is especially helpful.
As your child grows, your paediatrician can offer tips and suggestions that support the expert care your family dentist will provide.
They can also apply fluoride varnish to your child’s teeth in partnership with your child’s dentist.
In addition, paediatricians can help parents learn more about special risks that make some children more cavity prone.
For example, preemies, or premature babies, often have weaker tooth enamel than babies born at full term.
Certain health conditions and medicines can reduce saliva flow, making brushing and flossing even more important.
Set a good example
Kids learn from the adults around them.
That is why parents and caregivers should take excellent care of their own teeth.
As one dentist puts it: “Bad teeth don’t necessarily run in the family, but bad dental habits do.”
Set a positive example by letting little ones watch while you brush and floss.
Explain that this is something we do twice a day, morning and night, even when we are away from home.
Mark dental appointments on the family calendar, which shows kids that regular check-ups are a priority.
Some children benefit from going to the dentist more than once every six months to help them avoid getting cavities or keep cavities that have already started from getting worse.
Encourage good habits by adding fun to your child’s routine.
Toddlers and preschoolers may enjoy brushing to music or marking their progress on a tooth care calendar.
The American Dental Association offers free colouring and craft sheets you can download and share too.
Healthy baby teeth set the stage for a lifetime of good dental health.
Teeth play a crucial role in helping us speak clearly, smile confidently and chew our food thoroughly, which nourishes our bodies for overall good health.
Setting a good example helps prevent tooth decay now and in the future.
Along with your family dentist, your paediatrician plays a key role in caring for your child’s mouth and teeth. – By Dr Patricia Braun/AAP/Tribune News Service
Dr Patricia Braun is a professor of paediatrics at the University of Colorado Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, a mother of two, and sits on the executive committee of AAP’s Section on Oral Health.
