Why is brushing babies' teeth so important?

Daily challenge: We all know how important regular dental care is. Cavities and discolored teeth not only look unattractive, they can also be very painful. You want to spare your own child a dental treatment for as long as possible, but this often requires a lot of persistence: some refuse to open their mouths from the start, others wriggle or bite on the toothbrush, and most swallow the toothpaste straight away and consider brushing finished.

Breast milk also contains sugar: Breast milk and formula contain milk sugar, which attacks the teeth. Ready-made baby food is generally mixed with fructose or fruit juice, and purees tend to stick to the little teeth and further damage the tooth enamel.

Decay can remain in the tooth root: Is it really that bad if baby teeth have cavities—they will fall out anyway? It's true that baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth during primary school, but cavities often also affect the tooth root from which the permanent teeth develop. In this way, the groundwork for cavity-prone teeth in children is laid.

Starting early helps: Even if it's stressful – the earlier you get your baby used to dental care, the more natural toothbrushing will become over time. Many babies are also very curious and enjoy putting things in their mouths. You can use that during brushing practice.

What parents can do for healthy baby teeth

Brushing the baby's teeth

• Healthy diet: Milk feeds, fruits and vegetables, cereal porridge as well as meat and fish belong on a baby's menu. Ready-made food is perfectly fine, but you should make sure that no sugar is added—even fructose, lactose and maltose are types of sugar!

• Brush twice daily: For babies it's the same as for adults: brush in the morning and evening. It doesn't have to be two minutes for the baby—consistency is initially more important than duration.

• No sugary drinks: Pure apple juice contains about as much sugar as lemonade, even though it's fruit sugar. Babies should only drink heavily diluted fruit juice (juice-water 1:4); unsweetened tea and water are better.

• No bottle for falling asleep: on a bottle as a bedtime ritual you should refrain once the first teeth are present, because sucking keeps the teeth in contact with food for longer and the milk sugar can attack them overnight.

• Regular check-ups at the dentist: Even when the first tooth appears, you can take your baby to the dentist. It's less about prevention and more about getting used to the dentist and the examination.

• Stay attentive: How susceptible children's teeth are is unfortunately partly hereditary. If the parents have problems with cavities, it is likely that the children will develop cavities more quickly as well. That of course doesn't mean that brushing can be skipped if the parents have healthy teeth. Brushing and regular preventive visits to the dentist are absolutely essential.

Image credits

Baby laughing and showing its teeth © mozhjeralena - stock.adobe.com