Many parents are surprised to know that the rate of tooth decay in children aged 1-3 is increasing. And the main reason that makes these parents "startled" is that babies are bottle-feeding, especially babies who regularly keep the bottle when they sleep.
Why are children prone to tooth decay due to bottle feeding?
Tooth decay in children from 1 to 3 years old usually occurs in children with a habit of bottle feeding. Because for many mothers, to provide more energy all day for their babies, they often give their babies a bottle with sugar-sweetened milk, juice ... And this is the cause of tooth decay. Because these types of water often do not have a lot of sugar, sugar ferments into acid, attacks the enamel, damaging the enamel of young children, plus long-term inadequate cleaning of teeth leads to multiple tooth decay. , especially the milk incisors in the upper and lower jaw.
In addition, many babies still have the habit of breastfeeding at night or keeping a bottle when sleeping. During sleep, only a small amount of saliva is secreted, so sugary liquids from the milk form on the teeth. Bacteria that cause tooth decay are present in the mouth and will use these sugars as food, quickly destroying baby's teeth. And after so many times, the teeth will be very susceptible to decay.
Children often drink bottles at bedtime, especially at night, teeth can have local decay leading to root infections, pulpitis, serious infections.
Unexpected harm when a child has tooth decay
Milk teeth in children is as important as permanent teeth, contributing to the endearing face and beautiful smile helps children feel more confident. Healthy baby teeth help children talk, chew, eat better, keep their permanent teeth grow in the right place, evenly and beautifully. If the baby teeth are decayed, it will lead to many unexpected harms:
The enamel and dentin layers of primary teeth are very thin and weak. Therefore, long-term tooth decay, if not treated and prevented early, will make children ache and have difficulty in eating, reducing the health of the learning process and affecting the child's aesthetics. ... In more severe cases, tooth decay can cause infection of the pulp and have to be extracted, sometimes affecting the underlying permanent germs or affecting the overall health, sometimes sepsis…
- Affecting permanent teeth: During this stage, the baby owns the "baby teeth" - an important premise for permanent teeth. If the mother leaves the baby teeth deep, the permanent molars under the baby teeth will not grow evenly, in the right place, out of the bite, yellow or brown.
- The baby has difficulty with pronunciation or incorrect pronunciation.
- Causing bad teeth, bad breath.
How to prevent tooth decay due to bottle feeding?
- Never let your baby get into the habit of bottle-feeding and bottle-feeding when babies go to bed, especially at night. If your baby needs a bottle to sleep, only let him suck the bottle of water and take out the bottle when he is asleep.
- Practice drinking milk from a cup as soon as possible, the appropriate time is usually when your baby is 1 year old. When drinking milk from a cup, the sugar in the milk will not accumulate on the teeth, moreover, the baby cannot ask to bring a glass of milk to bed when going to bed. If possible, bottle-feeding should be discontinued when the baby is over 1 year old.
- Only give your baby bottle-feeding at main meals, do not practice babies in the habit of holding the bottle around or at bedtime.
- Always keep the baby's mouth clean. After each feeding or feeding, it is necessary to have oral hygiene immediately, should use a towel, cotton ball or gauze to clean teeth for the baby. Need to practice for your baby to have a habit of brushing teeth right after the first teething.
- If your baby needs to latch on to sleep, especially at night, make sure the nipples are clean and free of sugar.
- Should go to the doctor so that the baby should be periodically examined teeth after the baby is 6 months to 1 year old to discover new tooth decay as well as instructions on how to take care of teeth.
7 steps to prepare for the first dental exam Many experts recommend that children should have their teeth checked at the time through the “cradle ceremony”, or after the first tooth appears. However, with many children, there will be an invisible fear and obsession when coming to this clinic.
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