Every baby develops teeth at one point, and the developing stage is crucial to the overall turn out of their teeth. Tooth decay is one of the dangers that pose a threat to your baby developing teeth normally and properly. Decay is caused when bacteria that causes diseases feasts on sugar that is leftover in your baby’s mouth. This leads to an increase in the production of acid that is higher than the normal amount. This acid slowly dissolves the enamel which is the protective layer for the teeth. This opens up the inner layers of the teeth to infection and diseases because they are vulnerable. The bacteria do not stop here and continue eating leftover sugars and producing more acid.

This becomes a devastating cycle that affects the development of your baby’s teeth. You can brush your baby’s teeth regularly and visit the pediatric dentist for checkups to prevent this. However, the crucial thing to do is to ensure the existing bacteria do not have any sugars to feast on. This means you have to limit the sugar intake of your toddler. You first have to identify the main sugar sources and cut down on them significantly. The following are three sugar sources that may not be obvious, but they play a significant role in tooth decay in your baby.

Feeding

Breastfeeding is natural and most mothers choose to do it for better growth and development of their babies. Breastfeeding on its own does not cause any decay, and most mothers do not see any harm in it. However, if a mother breastfeeds and combines it with sugar-rich foods and liquids, it increases the risk of tooth decay in babies. Therefore, as the baby grows up, limit the amount of sugary food and drinks they take as you breastfeed them. You do not need to stop nursing your baby when feeding them as well. Just limit the sugar content in their soluble foods.

Baby pacifiers and bottles

Babies can get fussy at times especially when you cannot hold them, forcing you to use a pacifier or bottle to calm them down. Using bottles or pacifiers is not a problem; however, adding sugars and sweeteners to the pacifiers is wrong. If your baby uses a pacifier throughout the day, it is not advisable to add jam or sweeteners on it to calm them down. This constant practice exposes your baby to tooth decay because of the availability of bacteria and sugar in the mouth throughout. Avoid adding sweeteners to bottles and pacifiers and also cut down on any other sugar intake.

Medications

Some medicines that babies take to treat chronic illnesses usually contain minimal amounts of sugar. Also, medications like antihistamines reduce the production of saliva in the mouth, which is needed to neutralize any acid after meals. If your baby is on any medication, consult your doctor on its dental effects. Feel free to ask for free alternatives and ensure you floss and brush your baby’s teeth daily. Additionally, you can ask your doctor to provide you with sugar-free alternatives. If these are not available, ensure your oral hygiene is maintained.

If you want to prevent tooth decay in your baby, it is vital to cut down on the sugars they take each day. This coupled with regular dentist visits, flossing and brushing will allow your infant’s teeth to develop fully. If you want any more information on preventing tooth decay in your baby, you can contact us. You can also schedule an appointment with us for a checkup.

Kidzania Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics

Serving the children of Aubrey, Little Elm, Prosper, Frisco, Celina and Denton, Texas, we provide dentistry for kids in a warm, caring and child-friendly environment. As Pediatric Dentists and Orthodontic specialists, we are able to care for the unique dental needs of every child. We focus on preventive care to help each child grow a healthy smile that will last a lifetime.