Caring for the milk teeth
Once their first milk teeth have erupted, parents should brush their child’s teeth twice daily with a soft toothbrush and a smear of fluoridated toothpaste. With the parent’s help, this increases efficacy and hence, gives a better reduction of plaque within the mouth. Understandably, this may not be an easy feat. However, it will be rewarding to preserve the milk teeth and also help the child get used to the initially foreign sensations of having their teeth cleaned.
Caring for a child’s teeth is part and parcel of caring for a child’s overall health. With efficient plaque removal twice daily via tooth brushing, the child will have a lower risk of tooth decay and bleeding gums. The dentist should be able to provide advice on which toothpaste and toothbrush to use.
Tooth decay is one of the main causes of dental pain in children. The chief culprit behind it all is sugar, unsurprisingly. Toddlers should not be sleeping with a bottle containing milk, fruit juices or sweet drinks. This is because prolonged exposure to the hidden sugars within those liquids will only lead to tooth decay in milk teeth.
It is especially important to watch a child’s sugar intake as milk teeth are very prone to decay due to their anatomical structure. The American Dental Association suggests wiping the child’s gums with a wet washcloth or clean gauze pad after each feeding.
Sources:
Huebner, C. E., & Riedy, C. A. 2010. Behavioral Determinants of Brushing Young Children’s Teeth: Implications for Anticipatory Guidance. Pediatric Dentistry, 32(1), 48–55.
Wake, et al. 2000. Teething and Tooth Eruption in Infants: A Cohort Study. 106:6 1374-1379
