No one remembers their milk teeth clearly, however, the fond memories of the tooth fairy linger in our minds from an early age.
Hardly 20 in number, milk teeth in their short span of a lifetime set the ball rolling for the permanent ones by activating facial muscles through activities as simple as chewing. Moreover, they guide permanent teeth to a perfect bite and speech.
However, parents often ignore oral health at such an early, fragile age - leading to decay that can be easily passed onto the permanent, irreplaceable ones causing lifelong dental issues.
Let’s learn what you can do to avoid any early damage to your little one’s tiny teeth,
Wipe the child's mouth post meals without fail. If not that, feed boiled water (one teaspoon) stored at room temperature each time after the baby’s meal.
Avoid feeding frequently and for long durations. Instead, observe the child's feeding patterns and go by them to avoid health complications as well as any tooth-related problem.
Never leave the milk bottle in the baby’s mouth overnight. Not only does it flare the chances of tooth decay but can also cause the baby to choke on it.
Never replace pacifiers with milk bottles. Yes, we understand it hurts to see a baby cry, however, calming them with a milk bottle is harmful to teeth. Instead, look for different ways to distract the child and comfort them.
Along with these points that one must take care of, a dentist is your best friend here since they know the journey of a tooth well into adulthood and can guide you with the same.
Unsure of how a pediatric dentist can help you? They can help with,
Various feeding methods
Post-feed clean-up
Mouth-healthy games
Teething issues
Eruption and falling off patterns
Dentists have detailed plans of action as to how, when and what to do for your little one’s smile. Furthermore, many pediatric dentists have consciously partnered with wellness companies to educate parents and bring a change in the air around dental health in younger children, thus helping alleviate long-lasting problems.
The cherry on the cake is that such companies also offer holistic dental solutions for newborns as well. Making your newborn’s milk teeth a stronger and long-lasting story seems easier now, right?