Kanata Invisalign Provider Gives Parents Tips on Preventing Early Childhood Caries

OTTAWA AND KANATA, ONTARIO - Parents of newborns are learning how to care for their new babies, and while the task is joyful, it can also be difficult.Kanata Invisalign providers Drs. Mark Northcott and David Bartos put together a quick reference for parents to help them care for their newborn's gums and future teeth. Trillium Dental's Nepean dentistry team can help teach local parents about good oral care for their infants.Early Childhood CariesDentists use the term early childhood caries or baby bottle tooth decay for infant tooth decay. This decay generally occurs in the infant's top front teeth.Baby bottles, if left in an infant's mouth long enough, can encourage bacteria formation in the mouth. Sugar is especially fertile for bacteria growth when left in the mouth. Parents may also pass on cavity-causing bacteria to their infants by cleaning their infant's pacifier or spoon in their own mouths. These sugars and bacteria can linger and cause cavities, even in the littlest teeth.Primary Teeth MatterPrimary teeth fall out, but that doesn't mean they aren't essential to a baby's oral health. Healthy primary teeth help infants eat, speak and smile. Primary teeth are also placeholders for permanent teeth, therefore the gums, the foundation of the teeth, should also be clean and healthy. Aligned primary teeth ideally will fall out and create space for perfectly aligned permanent teeth. Aligned teeth for children, teens and adults decrease the need for future cosmetic dental services. Patients with aligned teeth enjoy confident smiles and improved oral health.Preventing Early Childhood CariesInfants should visit the dentist before they turn 1. Some parents hear conflicting advice on this subject, but cosmetic dentist in Stittsville, Bartos and his partner Northcott know tooth decay can strike before a baby has all his teeth. Pediatric dentists specialize in younger patient care. Parents can ask their general dentist for recommendations for a great local pediatric dentist. A dentist will be able to inspect a baby's mouth to make sure teeth are developing normally. He will also look for signs of early childhood caries. Parents should bring their children in regularly to enjoy optimum dental health.Parents should also commit to cleaning their infant's gums, even before the first tooth appears. Bottles should be taken away after use instead of left in the crib overnight. Parents and caregivers should clean an infant's gums after each feeding with a clean piece of gauze or a clean, wet cloth. Bottles should contain only formula, milk or breast milk; bottles of sugary juice can encourage bacteria growth. The bacteria can lead to early childhood caries. Pacifiers should be cleaned regularly, and they should never be immersed in honey to encourage sucking.It's time to use an infant toothbrush when the baby's first tooth erupts. Toothpaste isn't necessary until the child turns 2; water and the brush will sufficiently clean the infant's new teeth. A healthy diet and regular oral care should keep an infant cavity-free. At 2, parents can introduce fluoride toothpaste and teach children to spit it out.Parents should oversee their children's flossing and brushing until the child can brush without swallowing toothpaste. Children aren't usually able to brush their teeth without parental guidance until they're about 7.Oral health affects many other health aspects, including diabetes, oral cancer and heart disease. Patients who practice meticulous oral care from infancy enjoy reduced risks of gum disease, tooth decay, diabetes, oral cancer and heart disease.