Did you know that it’s important to start caring for your baby’s teeth before you can even see them?
That’s right: before your baby’s first tooth even appears, you should already be laying the foundation of healthy dental habits. Here are some common subjects parents have to tackle regarding their baby’s teeth and dental care.
What’s Normal During Teething and What’s Not?
Teething is a tough time for both babies and their parents. Normally happy babies can become quite fussy – even inconsolable, it seems, at times – and even the best sleepers will suddenly revert to keeping everyone up all night. These are, unfortunately, totally normal occurrences when a baby is teething. Your baby also may not be as interested in feeding as they usually are and you might notice drool… lots and lots of drool (but it’s cute. Because they’re babies. Right?!) None of this is cause for concern.
What’s not normal? If your child has a fever, an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a rash, there is something more serious going on that may not be related to teething. So, if your child’s mood, sleep, and eating patterns have changed and its been accompanied by one or more of these symptoms, take your baby to the pediatrician as soon as possible to rule out anything more serious.
Are Teething Rings Safe?
In general, yes, teething rings are safe. However, we encourage parents to investigate teething implements online before making a purchase. Check to see if the teething ring you are interested in has been approved by the FDA. Please note that many “natural” teething rings have not been tested for safety and some of them that have been tested have failed to pass the FDA safety regulations.
Can I Put a Numbing Gel On My Baby’s Gums During Teething?
Most of us who are adults now were given benzocaine (sold under brand names like Anbesol, Orajel, and Baby Orajel) while we were teething. Yes, we made it through just fine. But unfortunately the medical industry has discovered that benzocaine is not safe for children under two years of age because is has been associated with a rare but very serious condition called methemoglobinemia. This condition reduces the amount of oxygen in a baby’s blood and can be fatal. Although, again, it is rare, it’s not really worth taking the chance.
Instead, try rubbing your baby’s gums with a cold spoon or a clean finger. In some cases, pacifiers or teething rings may help as well. Do not give a baby ice – this is a choking hazard.
Why Are Baby Teeth Important If They Are Going to Naturally Fall Out Anyway?
Despite the fact that baby teeth will eventually fall out on their own and be replaced by permanent adult teeth, baby teeth play an important role in the development of your child.
Baby teeth are placeholders. If a baby tooth is lost too early, the adult tooth can come in too early as well and disrupt the placement of later adult teeth. Furthermore, just because you don’t see an adult tooth yet doesn’t mean its not there. Adult teeth are held below the gum line and if baby teeth are not properly cared for, cavities can actually spread beyond baby teeth to the adult teeth that are still in the gums. This usually necessitates both the baby tooth and the adult tooth being extracted, even before it has come in, to avoid the infection from spreading into the gum and jawbone, which is a very medically serious condition.
Finally, a full, healthy set of baby teeth help your child to eat age-appropriate foods as they grow and to learn to speak correctly. Without baby teeth, none of this can happen.
Will Pacifiers and Thumbsucking Ruin My Baby’s Teeth?
Thumbsucking is a very normal habit for babies and pacifiers serve much the same purpose: the sucking motion is an excellent way for many children to self-soothe. During about the first three years of like, thumbsucking and pacifier use generally will not negatively affect a child’s teeth. However, once baby teeth start to fall out and adult teeth begin appearing (around age 4 or 5), children should be weaned from thumbsucking (and fingersucking) and pacifiers in order to avoid permanent damage to adult teeth.
What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Rot and How Do We Avoid It?
Babies who are put to sleep with bottles, especially when bottles are filled with juice or other sugary liquids, can sometimes develop many cavities early on. If possible, have your baby finish their bottle before sleep and only put milk, breast milk, or formula in bottles. When giving your baby a pacifier, do not dip it in sugar or honey. Also, parents and caregivers should not lick baby’s pacifier or spoons before placing them in baby’s mouth as this will transfer the bacteria from the adult’s mouth to the baby’s mouth. These preventative measures are most useful when accompanied by age-appropriate gum- and tooth brushing habits.