Cavities can be extremely challenging to deal with. But this isn’t a problem that only affects older children. Just because your baby has only a few teeth, does not mean they are any less susceptible to developing cavities. The risk begins as soon as the baby gets their first tooth. Developing cavities in early age can impact the child’s oral health in the long run. So how do you as parents make sure that your little one stays away from this tooth decay?

You can do this by understanding what is causing these cavities. The bacteria that is found in the mouth slowly degrades the teeth, which leads to the formation of cavities. This bacteria comes from sugary drinks that the child is consuming such as milk, formula or any other juice. When you ensure every best thing for you little one, you should not be neglecting their oral health since it is just as important.

Here’s how you can keep your toddler away from tooth decay:

• Sleeping with the bottle: You should immediately break this habit as it is causing the teeth to get more exposure to the liquid inside the bottle. As soon as the baby is done feeding, remove the bottle to keep their dental health intact.
• Daily cleaning: Start brushing their teeth using a soft brush early on in life. This will keep their baby teeth healthy and also helps inculcate the habit of daily brushing and flossing in the child.
• Avoid sippy cups: if you let your child walk around with drinks in a sippy cup throughout the day, the exposure between the drink and the child’s teeth increase which puts them at risk of tooth decay. Give them water in the sippy cup if required and don’t use it as a pacifier.
• Teach drinking from a cup: Another way of ensuring that your baby stays away from cavities is by teaching them how to drink from a cup rather than sipping from a bottle.
• Toothpaste: Use fluoride toothpaste for brushing only after your child is old enough to be able to spit it out.
• Visit a dentist: Your baby needs to have a dental check-up routinely. The doctor can ensure that the teeth are developing properly, and there are no signs of decay in the teeth.
• Dilute the juices: If the baby is older than six months, you can give them juice to drink but only after diluting it with water. Only provide a limited amount of juice since it is a sugary drink.

You have to be vigilant about the child’s oral health from the start to ensure that they have proper adult teeth in the future. If you notice any sign of decay on your baby’s teeth, immediately seek the counsel of a dentist. They can help you find out if their dental health is good enough and suggest ways to curb the damage that has already happened.

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