The most crucial stage of a kid’s dental stage is between 0 and three years. The practices which you instill in the kid at this moment last their lifetime. You can do many things as a parent to ensure the kid’s dental health is perfect.
Let us look at the top tips that will ensure the kid’s teeth are healthy.
Don’t Stop Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for the newborn baby. One of the ways to keep dental decay at bay is to breastfeed the newborn till the 12th month. Studies further show that the antibodies in this milk can help reduce the growth of bacteria in the baby’s mouth. These antibodies protect against diseases.
Once the baby finishes breastfeeding, make sure you remove him from the breast. Never allow him to nod off with the breast in the mouth, because traces of milk remain on the enamel, and act as a precursor for dental decay.
For night feeding, make sure that you remove them from the cot and hold him to breastfeed him.
If you start bottle-feeding the baby, make sure you remove the bottle when you are done with the feeding session. Additionally, make sure you supervise them during this time. Don’t allow them to sleep off while still sucking on the bottle as this causes dental damage.
Water is the Ultimate Drink for Babies
At this tender age, water is the go-to drink for babies. Ensure he takes water all through the day. Use plain cow milk if the baby is over a year old.
Additionally, opt for water with some fluoride to shield the teeth. However, ensure the fluoride level isn’t too much to erode enamel.
Water isn’t just for rinsing the teeth; it also helps to dilute the acid in the mouth and stomach. It also washes away any sugars left on the teeth.
Plain Milk is Ideal at All Times
Babies aged one year and below should drink breast milk or use baby formula. Milk is the ultimate calcium source that makes the teeth strong.
You can introduce kids over one year to plain full fat cow’s milk. When they hit two years, you can go for low-fat milk.
We have seen many parents opting for flavored milk as opposed to plain milk. Well, flavored milk is sweet, but you need to remember that this type of milk has added sweetening. This sweetening is the main cause of dental damage.
Avoid Sweet Drinks
Sweet beverages and fruit juices aren’t good for kids. You might argue that natural fruit juice will not harm the kid, but these juices have natural sugars that spoil the enamel.
Soft drinks also contain natural acids that will damage your teeth. If you notice any dental damage, work with an emergency dental care Brooklyn NY specialist.
Opt for Healthy Meals and Snacks
Children can get weaned at six months. When you give the kid sugary foods, and the fact that it comes from someone they trust, they will consume the food. They don’t know if the food is detrimental to their teeth or not; they will consume it.
By the 12th month, kids need to be consuming a wide variety of solid foods, just like older kids. Children will learn all they need about eating from you and their older siblings. If you consume foods rich in sugars, then they will also want to eat that. Eating snacks on a large scale will cause decay.
Clean Baby Teeth the Moment they appear.
Begin cleaning baby teeth the moment they sprout. Cleaning the teeth will get rid of plaque that causes tooth decay if left untreated. Start by using a soft cloth then advance to a soft-bristled toothbrush and lukewarm water. At 18 months, start using fluoride toothpaste made, especially for kids. Clean the enamel at least twice a day. Kids will need your supervision to brush and floss until they reach 7 or 8 years.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to taking care of your baby, you must work with an expert dentist. Your baby relies fully on you to take care of them. You need to report any issue to the emergency dental care Brooklyn NY specialist to assist you with a quick solution.
