Teeth

A tooth is a bit like an iceberg — only a portion of it is visible, and so much lies beneath the surface. Your pearly whites not only give you your smile, but extend into your gums and then beyond the gums into the bones of your mouth. Although some people think of a tooth as a solid piece of bone, it is actually a multilayered structure alive with nerves and blood vessels

At Birth and before the first tooth erupts

Begin cleaning the baby's mouth during the first few days after birth. After every feeding, wipe the baby's gums with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque. This establishes at an early age the importance of oral hygiene and the feel of having clean teeth and gums. 

Six months to one year

Begin brushing your child's teeth when the first tooth erupts. You can use small soft toothbrush or a clean washcloth. Clean and massage gums in areas that remain toothless.

Now you’ll think why are baby teeth so important? Aren’t they going to fall anyway?

Your child's baby teeth are very important. Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking smile. Baby teeth also keep a space in the jaw for the adult teeth. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the teeth beside it may drift into the empty space. When it's time for the adult teeth to come in, there may not be enough room. This can make the teeth crooked or crowded.

Why it is very important to keep those small teeth clean?

As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. One serious form of decay among young children is baby bottle tooth decay.

 It’s very important to understand what baby bottle tooth decay is decay is and how to prevent it. So let’s take a closer look at that that aspect.

Decay in infants and children is called baby bottle tooth decay. It can destroy the teeth and most often occurs in the upper front teeth. But other teeth may also be affected.

What causes baby bottle tooth decay?

Decay occurs when sweetened liquids like milk, formula and fruit juice are given and are left clinging to an infant's teeth for long periods. Bacteria in the mouth use these sugars as food. They then produce acids that attack the teeth. Each time your child drinks these liquids, acids attack for 20 minutes or longer. After many attacks, the teeth can decay.

It's not just what you put in your child's bottle that causes decay, but how often and for how long a time. Giving your child a bottle of sweetened liquid many times a day isn't a good idea. Allowing your child to fall asleep with a bottle during naps or at night can be really harmful to your child's teeth.