They've Only Got One Set: How To Help Your Baby Develop Healthy Teeth
If you're a new parent, you want your baby to grow up healthy and strong. That health and strength should include their teeth. After all, strong, healthy teeth are a vital part of your baby's overall health. It doesn't take a lot of work to help your baby develop healthy teeth, but it does take persistence. Here are three steps you can take to help prevent dental problems with your baby's developing teeth.
Get Them Used to Water
Water is an important part of dental care, especially if your baby is going to be using bottles. Going to sleep with a bottle filled with formula or juice can lead to tooth decay. To avoid that, it's best to get your baby used to drinking water from a bottle. That way, if your baby gets to the point where they need a bottle at bedtime, you can offer them water instead of decay-causing milk, formula, or juice. Not only that, but water helps in the production of saliva, which is beneficial in washing bacteria out of the mouth.
Limit Thumb-Sucking
It's not uncommon for babies to suck their thumbs. In fact, it can be quite normal during the first year or two of life. However, after the second year of life, when the baby teeth have developed, thumb-sucking can lead to orthodontic problems. That's because the continual sucking on the thumb puts pressure on the teeth and palate, which can cause misalignment of the teeth and a malformation of the soft palate. If your baby is still sucking their thumb after their second birthday, start working to wean them off the practice.
Schedule an Early Dental Visit
Once your baby has a few of their first teeth, you should schedule an early dental visit. This will give the dentist an opportunity to see how your baby's teeth are developing, as well as give you some additional advice on how to prevent dental problems. Not only that, but the early dental visits will get your baby used to the sights and smells of the dentist's office, which will help when they get older.
Healthy teeth are important to your baby, and proper development begins when they're young. Use the information provided here to help your baby develop strong, healthy teeth. It's never too early to start your baby on the road to proper dental care. Taking care of your baby's teeth from an early age can help prevent emergency dental situations later on.