When you become a parent, there is much to learn. This brings a whole new set of challenges. One aspect where parents often feel confused is dealing with teeth. In infants, teeth begin to show up around six months of age. Parents need to look to expert advice to ensure common myths are understood and the right steps are taken to care for baby teeth.
Myth: Baby Teeth Are Not Important
This is a common myth that parents hear from time to time. The primary teeth of your baby will fall out as they are temporary. However, they do need to function until they fall out to make room for permanent teeth. They also play an important role in holding the space needed for their permanent teeth! Babies use their teeth to eat just like we do as well as to obtain proper nutrition. The tiny teeth also are helpful for speech development. Even though the baby teeth will be falling out, parents need to take care to ensure their health, with regular brushing and dental visits.
Myth: Once A Day Brushing
You may have heard that brushing your baby’s teeth should be done once a day. This is fine but twice a day is better. It will take 24 hours for bacteria in the mouth to become a film, which is known as plaque and can lead to cavities. Once a day brushing will not remove this film. It is best to brush your baby’s teeth twice a day to help fight bacteria effectively.
Using a small damp cloth in your baby’s mouth even before any teeth erupt will prepare them for oral hygiene care well before you need to use a toothbrush. You can even continue to use a cloth for a short while after their first teeth erupt if your child does not respond well to the use of a toothbrush.
Myth: Cavities Don’t Occur in Babies
This is a big myth. If you have teeth, then you can get a cavity. If a child has a cavity in a baby tooth, it can cause an infection or abscess. This can cause pain or swelling in the mouth. The permanent tooth forms at the end of the baby tooth root, so if an infection is present in the baby tooth, it can damage the permanent tooth. Always care for your baby’s teeth so that you can avoid cavities or issues with the teeth.
At Regent Dental, proper tooth care is provided for children to ensure that they have a beautiful smile and healthy teeth for years to come.
