Don't Let a Missing Tooth Hold You Back in Life

2 Tips For Cleaning Your Baby's Teeth After Feedings To Prevent Tooth Decay

by Wyatt Morgan

A baby's first teeth are considered to be spacers or spot holders for their more permanent teeth. Tooth decay can easily damage these teeth and cause their permanent teeth to grow in incorrectly. While feedings are a great time to bond with your baby, they can also lead to tooth decay. Babies might experience tooth decay after feedings because of poor dental care.

While their teeth may be drastically smaller than adults, they are still susceptible to many of the same dental issues that plague adults. As a result, it is important to keep your baby's teeth clean after each feeding to ensure that they remain healthy. Fortunately, there are a few tips that you can use in order to do this.

Wipe Their Gums Immediately After Feedings

The reason why your baby may begin to experience tooth carries or tooth decay is due to the fact that there is still food residue left on their teeth. If this residue is composed of sugary ingredients, then it will begin to eat away or damage their teeth. In order to remove some of the residue, you should wipe their gums using a damp cloth.

If your child receives smaller feedings throughout the day, then their gums should be wiped after these feedings as well. Smaller feedings that may be considered snacks can have a similar effect on the health of your baby's teeth as larger meals.

Brush Their Teeth After Nightly and Morning Feedings

Once your baby's teeth begin to come in, you can begin using a fluoride toothpaste to properly clean their teeth after a meal. Since they are still young, the amount of fluoride used should not be more than the size of a grain of rice. Apply the small amount of toothpaste to a baby-sized toothbrush and use it to clean their mouth thoroughly. Be careful not to apply too force while brushing their teeth, since their mouth and teeth are still fragile. This cleaning process should be done immediately after your morning and nightly feedings.

It is very easy for your baby to develop tooth carries if their teeth are not taken care of properly. Once these teeth carries develop, they can lead to a number of dental problems for your child later on down the line. Therefore, use these tips to ensure that your child's teeth are properly cleaned and taken care of after each feeding. Contact a dentist for more information.

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