Prevent Tooth Decay in Babies

Did you know a baby’s 20 primary teeth are already present in their jaws at birth? Those baby teeth that begin coming through the gums around 6 months help set the stage for future smiles by keeping space in the jaw for adult teeth. Starting your child off with good dental care can help protect their teeth for decades to come.

Baby teeth are place holders for adult teeth and help them develop the way they speak, eat and grow. Though baby teeth are place holders, they are still prone to getting cavities and tooth decay, which can cause pain to babies, lead to life threatening infections and can be costly to treat.

“Tooth decay develops when a baby's mouth is infected by acid-producing bacteria.” This most commonly happens when a child's teeth and gums are exposed to liquid and food for a long period of time. “Natural or added sugars in the liquid or food are changed to acid by bacteria in the mouth. This acid then dissolves the outer part of the teeth, causing them to decay. The most common way this happens is when parents put their children to bed with a bottle of formula, milk, juice (even when mixed with water), soft drinks (soda, pop), sugar water, or sugared drinks. It can also occur when children are allowed to frequently drink anything other than water from a sippy cup or bottle during the day or night.”

You can start caring for baby's gums right away. But at first, the care won't involve a toothbrush and toothpaste. Instead, take these steps:

• Get a soft, moistened washcloth or piece of gauze.
• Gently wipe down your baby's gums at least twice a day.
• Especially wipe your baby's gums after feedings and before bedtime.
• This will wash off bacteria and prevent them from clinging to gums. Bacteria can leave behind a sticky plaque that damages infant teeth as they come in.

When the first baby teeth start to pop up, you can graduate to the use of a toothbrush. Choose one with a soft brush, small head and large handle.

At first, just wet the toothbrush. As soon as teeth erupt, you can start using a bit of training-toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. You can increase this to a peas sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when your child is 2 years old. Brush gently all around your child's baby teeth, front and back.

You should brush your baby's teeth until he or she is old enough to hold the brush. Continue to supervise the process until your child can rinse and spit without assistance. That usually happens at around age 6.