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By the time your kiddo’s baby teeth start popping out at around six months, it has developed below the gum line since the 6th week of pregnancy.

Take good care of these little teeth from the go-to to prevent harmful dental problems in the future. Under those baby teeth, adult permanent or adult teeth are also in the development phase, and those begin popping out from around six years of age. 

According to UIC Dentistry, your baby is born with 20 primary or baby teeth that haven’t appeared yet. The enamel has been forming since around the 4th month of pregnancy. Teeth begin erupting – usually incisors / bottom front teeth at six months, and the eruption is completed by three years of age. 

By 6 to 12 years, they have a combination of baby and adult teeth. The baby teeth gradually give way to 32 adult teeth, with the incisors going first and the back teeth/canines and molars going last as your child heads towards their teens.

The protective layer of enamel is very thin in baby teeth, which means that if the teeth aren’t properly cared for right from the start, this could result in cavities occurring before your baby turns one year old.

However, those spaces you see between your baby’s teeth are normal; it is there to give adult teeth space to erupt in due course.

Those first teeth are a milestone in your baby’s development, as it gives them a new way to eat, chew, speak and smile. How to care for the teeth remains a lifetime priority that begins with you guiding them in forming healthy oral hygiene habits.

Nutrition

Your child’s growth and development depend on good nutrition. And all good diets require that you cut the sugars. However, sugar is everywhere, from milk to vegetables to cereals and processed baby foods.

These can all lead to tooth decay because the acids in sugar feed harmful bacteria in the mouth. This, in turn, leads to erosion of sensitive teeth enamel, causing decay. Sugary drinks like sodas, fruit juice, fruit snacks and sweets should be limited unless it is a nutritious snack, a piece of fruit and for special occasions, a cupcake or a portion of chocolate, eaten directly after meals.

The following guidelines should help control your child’s sugar intake:

• Read the labels and choose only foods that are sugar-free or low in added sugars.
• Choose water over soft drinks or sugary beverages.
• Guide your child to drink out of a cup by their first birthday. 
• You should also get them off the sippy cup as soon as possible.
• Don’t feed them sweet snacks between meals. 

Avoid bottle use at night.

According to Parents.com, the leading dental problem in children under three years is baby bottle tooth decay (BBTD). This occurs when you give your baby bottles of sugary liquids such as formula, milk or fruit juices which they suck on for hours. 

Putting your baby to sleep with a bottle is particularly harmful because:

• Decay occurs and, left untreated, leads to pain and infection. Call your doctor if you see hard, red swellings in their mouth, dark spots on the teeth or any signs of decay.
• With the early loss of baby teeth, permanent teeth grow crooked.
• In future, there’s a risk of decay in permanent teeth.

Start early by giving bottles of water for in-between feedings, pre-naptimes and bedtimes and encourage them to finish the bottle before they go to bed. 

With breastfeeding, ensure that baby doesn’t fall asleep with un-swallowed milk in their mouths because this causes tooth decay, especially if they are already eating carbohydrates and other foods that contain sugar. Clean the mouth with a damp cloth and instead introduce a bottle of water before bedtime 

Cleaning and brushing

Let them watch you brush your teeth, so you can guide them with their teeth, brushing twice a day and flossing once a day until at least six years of age. 

You should gently wipe their gums with a clean cloth after feedings with very young infants. While children younger than three get a smear of toothpaste for their brushings, and between 3-6 years, they get a pea-size drop on their soft toothbrushes. You have to stay with them to see that they don’t swallow toothpaste. 

Lose the bad habits

Finger sucking or over-use of pacifiers places too much force on the front teeth, causing protruding front teeth or an improper bite or the displacement of adult teeth that will require orthodontic treatment later on. 

Prolonged use of pacifiers or finger sucking could change the position of their teeth, making it hard for them to chew or speak. 

First visit to the dentist

The first visit to the dentist should be during the baby’s first year, after the appearance of the first teeth. Dental visits are also recommended twice a year to monitor their progress and serve as a preventative measure to catch decay soonest.