Every parent wants the best for their child. You may think that baby teeth don’t matter because they eventually fall out, but your child’s baby teeth play a big role in their growth and development and the realization of their potential. It’s important to take good care of their teeth from the moment that first tooth appears.
Baby teeth are more fragile than adult teeth and need daily care so your child can learn and grow without the burden of pain from cavities. Baby teeth can be easily attacked by cavities. Sugar is a primary cause of cavities. Sugar in juice, soda and sports drinks feeds the bacteria on baby teeth. Baby teeth are important for your child’s development.
• Cavities in baby teeth can spread to adult teeth as they come in.
• The hard surface of baby teeth — the enamel — is thin, which makes it easy for cavities to form.
• Healthy baby teeth guide the adult teeth so they come in straight. When a baby tooth comes out too soon because of a cavity, the adult tooth in that space may then come in crooked and unhealthy.
By taking care of your child’s baby teeth, you’re establishing healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep your child’s baby teeth clean and healthy.
1. Only water between meals and at bedtime. Let your child drink juice, sports drinks, Kool Aid, or milk only when they are sitting down for a meal. For the rest of the day (especially when they go to bed), they should have only water.
2. Brush your child’s teeth every day. Brush your child’s teeth in the morning and at night, but especially at night. Brushing at night keeps the bacteria from eating away at the enamel of your child’s teeth while they sleep. If your children like to brush on their own, let them, but be sure to help them get all sides of each tooth.
Go to BrushwithMe.com to learn more about taking care of your child’s teeth.