The Toothache That Changed My Life

If your baby's first set of teeth are pushing through their gums, you may not understand how critical it is for you to care for those teeth. Because the new teeth will eventually fall out, it may not seem worth the additional effort to brush or maintain them. However, there are a number of benefits to starting a maintenance regimen for your child's new teeth. Use this information to learn two tips that can guide you as you start caring for your baby's teeth.

Avoid Baby-Bottle Tooth Decay

The first thing you want to do when trying to care for the dental health of your baby's teeth and gums is avoid baby-bottle tooth decay. While it is very easy to let your baby fall asleep with the bottle hanging out of their mouth or even to let them watch television for extended periods of time with the bottle tilted upward into their mouth, this could be a serious mistake.

Baby-bottle tooth decay occurs when the sugars that are contained within juice and milk are allowed to sit inside of the mouth for an extended period. The sugar then mixes with the bacteria that is already inside of the mouth and creates an acid that can wreak havoc on your child's teeth.

You can cut down on your child's risk for baby-bottle tooth decay by taking certain precautions. After each feeding, dampen a washcloth and carefully wipe out the inside of your child's mouth. Make sure the cloth isn't too wet, since this could create a sugary liquid in the mouth of the child.

Schedule an Appointment with a Pediatric Dentist

Taking your child to the dentist is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it helps them to establish a dental regimen that may continue on throughout their lives. Going to the dentist is also helpful because it can shed light on whether or not your child's teeth are coming in on schedule.

If the baby teeth aren't falling out when they are supposed to, this can hinder the development of the permanent teeth. Baby teeth act like a sort of placeholder for adult teeth, providing the space for the new tooth to fill. Dentists can help by extracting any stragglers so that permanent teeth don't come in crookedly.

Caring for your baby's teeth doesn't have to be difficult if you know what to do. Start using these tips right away so your child can enjoy the benefits of healthy teeth. You can find a pediatric dentist in your area by visiting sites such as http://www.apollodentalcenter.com.