6 Myths About Baby Teeth

With so many years of dealing with your own teeth, you’d think that
caring for your baby’s tiny ones would be no big deal. Yet there’s still
a lot of confusion about what to do when teeth start making an
appearance around 6 months. This expert advice will answer your
questions and dispel some common misconceptions.

MYTH: Baby teeth aren’t that important.

FACT: Yes, your baby’s primary teeth are temporary and will
eventually fall out. However, they have many functions beyond looking
adorable. “Baby teeth are essential for eating and getting proper
nutrition, for the structure of the face, and for holding space for the
adult teeth to come in properly,” says Homa Amini, D.D.S., chief of
pediatric dentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus,
Ohio. If a tooth is lost too early because of decay, the other teeth
could shift so there’s not enough space for the adult tooth to grow in,
she says. Another reason those tiny teeth are critical: your baby’s
speech development. She’ll need her teeth to be able to eventually
produce sounds like l, th, and sh.

MYTH: Teething can make your baby sick.

FACT: Although you may have heard that teething
causes diarrhea, fever, and a whole host of other problems, recent
research shows that any symptoms are actually quite mild. Gum
irritation, drooling, and irritability are the most common symptoms
associated with teething, according to a recent study in Pediatrics;
some babies may also experience a slight rise in temperature. However, a
true fever (100.4°F or higher) isn’t related to teething, says Jade
Miller, D.D.S., president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
(AAPD). If your baby has significant signs of sickness, contact your
pediatrician.

MYTH: You should brush your baby’s teeth once daily.

FACT: Twice a day is better. “It takes approximately
24 hours for the film of bacteria that causes cavities, commonly
referred to as plaque, to build up enough strength to damage the tooth
structure,” says Dr. Miller. “It’s unlikely any person—child or
adult—will get all of the plaque removed on once-a-day brushing.
Therefore, we recommend brushing twice a day, to improve the likelihood
of more thorough plaque removal.” Before your baby has any teeth, clean
her mouth and gums with a damp washcloth. Once her first tooth sprouts,
switch to a small, soft-bristled toothbrush, and use a fluoridated
toothpaste sparingly. “A small amount, the size of a grain of rice, is
all you need,” Dr. Miller says. Use the same brushing technique you use:
Put the toothbrush on your baby’s gum line and brush in small circles,
making sure to get the front and back of every tooth. And don’t worry
about dental floss yet: You can wait until she has two teeth that touch
each other before you floss.

MYTH: Kids shouldn’t have fluoride toothpaste until they’re 2 years old.

FACT: This was once the thought, but experts now
advise using a fluoride toothpaste right from the start. “Fluoride
significantly decreases the chances of decay,” Dr. Miller says. The
reason fluoride was once delayed is because too much can affect the
appearance of a child’s teeth, causing white spots or rough, pitted
surfaces, and very young children swallow toothpaste instead of spitting
it out. That’s why you should use only a small smear. Parents also
often wonder whether they should use a toothpaste with a “baby” label.
“If the baby-labeled toothpaste does not have any fluoride, then it does
not provide any cavity-prevention benefits,” Dr. Amini says.
“Technically, any fluoride toothpaste will have the same concentration
of fluoride, but the flavor of kids’ toothpaste may be more pleasant.”
You certainly want to avoid adult toothpastes that have additional
ingredients for things like whitening or tartar control.

MYTH: Babies can’t get cavities.

FACT: “If you have a tooth, it can get a cavity,”
says Jill Lasky, D.D.S., a pediatric dentist at Lasky Pediatric Dental
Group, in Los Angeles. And even though your baby’s teeth will fall out
eventually, that doesn’t mean decay is a small or temporary problem. “If
left untreated, a cavity in a baby tooth may cause the tooth to become
infected or abscessed, which can cause pain and swelling,” Dr. Miller
says. In addition, the permanent tooth is forming right at the ends of
the root of the baby tooth, so any infection in the baby tooth can
damage the permanent tooth, he says. In fact, one study found that
children who had cavities in their baby teeth were three times more
likely to develop cavities in their adult teeth. In addition to
brushing, the most important way to reduce your baby’s likelihood of
developing cavities is to avoid putting him to bed with a bottle of
formula or juice, or breastfeeding him on and off throughout the night.
“The bacteria that cause cavities love sugar and carbohydrates,” says
Dr. Miller. “After your baby falls asleep, the sweet liquid pools in his
mouth and provides the opportunity for cavities to develop.” Also avoid
sharing utensils with him or cleaning his pacifier with your mouth,
which can pass on your adult cavity-causing germs to your baby. Contact a
pediatric dentist if your baby shows signs of a cavity, which may
include a white, dark brownish, or black spot that doesn’t brush or wipe
off or a tooth that looks chipped or cracked (when no previous trauma
has occurred).

MYTH: You should schedule the first dental checkup by age 3.

FACT: The American Academy of Pediatrics and the
AAPD now both recommend that a baby see a dentist after he gets his
first tooth or by his first birthday. “About 60 percent of children in
the U.S. have tooth decay by the time they’re 5 years old,” says Dr.
Miller, and it’s not uncommon for babies to show signs of early decay.
At the first visit, the dentist will do an exam to evaluate your baby’s
current cavity risk and talk with you about what you can do to keep her
mouth healthy. After the first visit, your baby should have a dental
checkup every six months or as recommended by your dentist.

source: “6 Myths About Baby Teeth.”Tamekia Reece parents.com. Parents, Web. Feb. 15th, 2017.