It is often easy to overlook the dental health of our young children. "They only have baby teeth that will fall out in a few years, right?" is a question asked by many parents.
Baby teeth are not only crucial to the development and health of permanent teeth, but instilling good dental hygiene at a young age will promote good habits as children get older.
There are many things that parents overlook when taking care of their child's baby teeth, which is why it's important to keep up with routine pediatric dentistry in Webster Groves, MO. Dr. Matthew Wenzel, DMD is our trusted family dentist at Webster Groves Dental.
Tips for Taking Care of Baby Teeth
Our family dentist near me has put together a list with tips on caring for baby teeth:
- Ditch the bottle! Try to have your child switch from bottle to cup by their first birthday
- Do not put your child to bed with a bottle. This habit can promote tooth decay.
- As soon as your child's teeth come in begin brushing with a gentle, child-size brush and training toothpaste twice a day.
- Carefully supervise brushing until your child is old enough to know to spit out toothpaste.
- Limit or avoid sugary drinks such as juice or soft drinks.
- Never dip pacifiers in sugar or honey.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Children's Dentist in Webster Groves, MO
If you suspect your child may have decay, contact Webster Groves Dental right away to schedule an appointment with our pediatric dentist. Early treatment can prevent costly and extensive procedures in the future.