Baby Teeth Are Not Just Temporary Teeth

According to a recent article by Jennifer Calfas at USAToday.com, the birth rate in the US has begun to rise for the first time in seven years. Whether this is actually evidence that the US economy is improving as the author claims, the facts are these:

"More people are having babies. The rate of births among women ages 15 to 44 ticked up 1% from 2013 to 2014. That's the first increase since 2007, the beginning of the recession, according to a study released Wednesday by the National Center for Health Statistics. The 3.98 million total births in 2014 were the most since 2010."

What this does mean is that parents and grandparents of newborns should become educated in the area of dental care for babies and young children. Understanding the importance of brushing and flossing the teeth of very young children is critical for your baby to have healthy teeth and a healthy mouth; just as it’s critical for long-term dental health – as you teach your child how to take care of his or her own teeth.

Facts about baby teeth

• Baby teeth can start coming in as early as five months.
• By 1 year, a child typically has six teeth. By 3 years old, all twenty baby teeth are usually present.
• Teeth are ready to be brushed as soon as they come in.
• If baby teeth touch each other, they should be flossed.
• If there’s enough space in between the teeth for bristles to fit into, brushing alone is fine.
• By the time a baby is 12 months old, she should have a dentist.
• In addition to helping your baby chew food and saving space for the adult teeth to grow into, baby teeth play an important role in speech development.

Facts about teething babies

• Gently rub the baby's gums with a wet, cool washcloth.
• Teething rings can help, too, just make sure they aren't filled with liquid in case they burst.
• Avoid topical anesthetics with Benzocaine.
• Sucking on a pacifier or thumb can change the position of the teeth, but that's not a major issue until the permanent teeth come in.

One of the best ways to avid tooth loss later in life is to learn proper dental care at a young age, and to place a priority on it. As the saying goes, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Teach your children good dental hygiene at a young age and they should be able to avoid tooth loss well into their Golden Years.

The doctors and staff at The Colorado Center for Implant and Prosthetic Dentistry are available to help you determine effective solutions to all of your dental problems, including total tooth replacement. If you would like more information from your Littleton area Prosthodontist, please call to make an appointment today.