It will be shocking for you that almost 1 in 5 children under 5 years old has experienced tooth decay. Dental cavities have a significant impact on kids’ growth and overall health. It will be shocking if you know at least 51 million hours of school are missed every year because of tooth decay and the pain children experience. In our dental care in Wimbledon SW19, we believe that dental begins at the first time of baby is born and because of it, we made this article to help you as a parent.

Tips for dental health During Pregnancy

It may come as a surprise, but it is critical to consider your baby’s oral health even before they are born. This is because a pregnant woman’s oral health is linked to the health of her unborn child. Given the increased risk of some oral health concerns during pregnancy, both mom and baby must practise proper dental hygiene.

When a newborn is born, his or her mouth is sterile, which means that no microorganisms are present. However, within a few days after birth, the infant will begin to pick up bacteria from the saliva of others around them, notably the mother. If the mother maintains proper dental hygiene and maintains a healthy mouth, the germs passed to the baby will be healthy bacteria, promoting a healthy environment for when the baby’s teeth emerge.

Dental care tips for babies (0-1 Years old)

You may be surprised, but your newborn baby needs dental care routine just like you! It’s never too soon to start caring. So if you didn’t know that your baby needs basic dental care, start it today.

You may ask how? A newborn baby doesn’t have any teeth. Even before baby teeth start to appear, you should clean your baby’s gum. They drink breast milk or formula every day, it definitely has fructose, lactose and glucose in it. They are the main source of life for bacteria. Clean your baby’s gum with a clean gauze pad. The first teeth come around six months of age and cleaning gums can help you to notice when their first teeth start to come exactly.

• Make an appointment for your baby’s first dental visit. It is advised that the first dental appointment take place between the advent of the baby’s first tooth and the child’s first birthday. This initial appointment is critical for establishing a relationship with your baby’s dentist so that you may obtain individualized recommendations for your kid as they develop.

•         Take precautions to avoid infant bottle dental decay. Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when a baby’s teeth come into prolonged contact with sweet or sugary beverages. Bottles should only be used for breastfeeding, formula, or water. If your child needs a bottle to sleep, it should only contain water, and pacifiers should not be dipped in honey or sugar.

Dental care tips for Toddlers (1-2 Years)

You may think because of the temporary existence of baby teeth, they are not that important to care but in reality, they play a significant role in the growth of your kid. Also, baby teeth are important because they pave the way for permanent teeth. tooth abscess and gum infections occur between kids too. Studies prove this fact that children who experience tooth decay in their childhood are most likely to experience dental cavities in their permanent teeth. there’s a simple reason for this problem: environment! Their new permanent teeth come into an environment with bacteria that are already present in their mouth.

You as parents can prevent tooth decay in your kid’s teeth by doing these steps:

• Limit sugar in their diet: kids love sweet candies and snacks. Juice and fruits also have sugar. If you think they are young and need to drink juice every day as a vitamin resource, it’s a bad idea! If you want to give them fruit juices or their favourite sugary drinks like sodas, you should be diluted with water and given in a cup, and with meals when. Toddlers still use breast milk as a main source of minerals. Breastfeeding should be changed. Use bottles of breast milk or water and formula. The other part of their daily meal should be a mix of healthy and soft foods. Use a special spoon for your kid to avoid sharing bacteria that can be passed through saliva. The immune system of your child is not completely strong.
• Brush their teeth twice a day. Tiny smears and toddler toothbrushes can be useful for cleaning. Your kid’s teeth are not different from your permanent teeth. don’t use fluoride toothpaste until age 3. It would be better if you brush their teeth in the morning and at bedtime. You can learn them a small bedtime routine including drinking water after dinner, brushing teeth and then as a reward bedtime story.

Never forgot the floss. Flossing can be useful for kids too. Start to floss when your child at least has teeth, which is visible in age 2 to 3. If you don’t know how to exactly floss your teeth, ask your dentist or oral hygienist.