Dental health plays an important role in our overall health. You can help your baby develop healthy dental habits early on.
Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
Healthy eating habits can last a lifetime and encouraging your baby to develop a taste for healthy food choices can prevent tooth decay. Sugar can be very addictive, especially if your baby learns to love it at a young age. Limit the amount of sugary sweets that your baby has and encourage healthier and more nutritious alternatives such as, fruit (dried, fresh), ice-cream, cereal, etc.
Sticky foods such as raisins may be healthy foods but they can get stuck in your baby’s teeth and create a breeding ground for tooth decay. Avoid sticky foods shortly before bedtime and be sure and clean your baby’s teeth well.
Prevent “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay”
Babies often develop “baby bottle tooth decay” if they are frequently put to sleep with a bottle. Milk contains sugars that cause tooth decay. If your baby must have a bottle to fall asleep, give him a bottle of water. Gradually phase out the bottle completely and find other ways to comfort your baby as he falls asleep. A bottle can interfere with your baby’s jaw development if he stays attached to it for too long. By one year of age, your baby should be comfortable with a sippy cup and use it the majority of the time.
Clean Your Baby’s Gums
You can help your baby to have healthy gums even before his first tooth comes in. Use a soft, wet washcloth to gently wipe your baby’s gums after meals and before bedtime. There is no need for any toothpaste until your baby is older. Many stores sell infant “toothbrushes” that have textured ends to help clean your baby’s gums and get him used to having a toothbrush in his mouth. Start healthy habits early and you will help your baby develop healthy dental habits for life.
Once your baby’s first tooth appears, you should start the habit of brushing his tooth twice a day.
Fluoride Supplements
Talk to your pediatrician or pediatric dentist to find out if there is fluoride in your local water. If there is no fluoride in your local water, your pediatrician may recommend that you give you baby fluoride supplements to strengthen the teeth.
See a Dentist Early
Many parents delay taking their baby to the dentist because they assume that there is no need until later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking your baby to the dentist for a checkup 6 months after the first tooth erupts or by age one. First checkups are quick and easy but they help your baby feel comfortable with the dentist and help catch any dental complications early.
Teaching your baby healthy dental hygiene will create healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Brushing twice a day, eating nutritious foods, and practicing good general oral hygiene can easily become second nature if started early enough and will encourage good overal health in the future.
Dental Health Activities for Toddlers
Preschool Theme - Dental Health
Preschool Dental Lesson - Importance of Brushing Teeth
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