Start Early  

Your child’s baby teeth are at risk for decay as soon as they first appear—which is typically around age 6 months. Tooth decay in infants and toddlers is often referred to as Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. It most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but other teeth may also be affected. In some cases, infants and toddlers experience decay so severe that their teeth cannot be saved and need to be removed.

The good news is that tooth decay is preventable! Most children have a full set of 20 baby teeth by the time they are 3-years-old. As your child grows, their jaws also grow, making room for their permanent teeth.


Cleaning Your Child’s Teeth

Teething  

Teething is one of the first rituals of life. Although newborns usually have no visible teeth, most baby teeth begin to appear generally about six months after birth. During the first few years of your child’s life, all 20 baby teeth will push through the gums and most children will have their full set of these teeth in place by age 3. A baby’s front four teeth usually erupt or push through the gums at about six months of age,although some children don’t have their first tooth until 12 or 14 months. As their teeth erupt, some babies may become fussy, sleepless and irritable, lose their appetite or drool more than usual. Diarrhea, rashes and a fever are not normal symptoms for a teething baby. If your infant has a fever or diarrhea while teething or continues to be cranky and uncomfortable, consult your pediatrician.

First Dental Visit  

As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, it’s time to schedule a dental visit. Dental associations the world over recommend that the first dental visit takes place within six months after the first tooth appears, but no later than a child’s first birthday. Don’t wait for them to start school or until there's an emergency. Get your child comfortable today with good mouth healthy habits.

Although the first visit is mainly for the dentist to examine your child’s mouth and to check growth and development, it’s also about your child being comfortable. To make the visit positive:

During this visit, you can expect the dentist to:

Fluoride  

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in all water sources, including oceans, rivers and lakes. Fluoride is also added to some community tap water, toothpastes and mouth rinses. Infants and toddlers who do not receive an adequate amount of fluoride may be at an increased risk for tooth decay since fluoride helps make tooth enamel more resistant to decay. It also helps repair weakened enamel. Bottled water may not contain fluoride; therefore, children who regularly drink bottled water or unfluoridated tap water may be missing the benefits of fluoride. 

Discuss your child’s fluoride needs with your pediatric dentist .They may recommend a fluoride supplement if you live in an area where the community water is not fluoridated.

Pacifiers 

Infants and young children may suck on thumbs, other fingers or pacifiers. Pacifiers dipped in sugar, honey, juice or sweetened drinks, can lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay can also begin when cavity-causing bacteria pass from saliva in a mother or caregiver’s mouth to the baby. When the mother or caregiver puts the baby’s feeding spoon in her mouth, or cleans a pacifier in her mouth, the bacteria can be passed to the baby.

5 WAYS TO PREVENT YOUR KID'S TOOTH DECAY

1. CARE BUT DON'T SHARE: Don’t share utensils with your child or “clean” a pacifier by putting it in your mouth. You can transfer cavity causing germs to your child.

2. EAT HEALTHY & DRINK HEALTHY

3. FIRST DENTAL VISIT NOT LATER THAN 1 YR

4. USE FLUORIDATED PASTE AND BRUSH FOR 2 MIN 2 TIMES A DAY

5. SEAL OUT TOOTH DECAY WITH SEALANTS.