Protecting Little Smiles

Even in the very beginning when the first little teeth are starting to come in, dental health is an important part of your child's overall health.

Why is it important to care for baby teeth?
Even though they will eventually fall out, baby teeth hold the place where adult teeth will grow.
Also, it can be difficult to eat a large variety of healthy foods without healthy teeth or with constant toothaches and brittle teeth that chip easily.

Here are some of the Do's and Don'ts of Baby Teeth:

-Do... Make sure that your child's bedtime routine involves wiping teeth or gums with a soft cloth or baby toothbrush for babies, or brushing your toddler's teeth with a small dot of toothpaste.

-Don't... Put your child to bed with a baby bottle or sippy cup, especially one with filled with milk or juice-- This leads to tooth decay that can be painful for your child and your pocket. If this has been a part of your routine and you and you child are having trouble breaking this habit, try replacing this routine with another one like singing a soothing song or practicing your numbers by counting sheep.

-Do... Limit juice to 4-6 ounces each day.

-Don't... Allow your child to walk around with a sippy cup full of juice. If your child is thirsty, it is fine to offer water. However, sipping on sweet drinks all day can lead to tooth decay and cavities.

-Do... Have your child using a sippy cup by age 1-- The sippy cup is a short-term tool used for transitioning to a big cup

-Don't... Continue to use the sippy cup out of convenience if your child is able to use a big cup-- Around age 2, most children can drink fine from a regular cup. There will be spills, but that's just a part of learning. As mentioned before, the purpose of the sippy cup is to help your child learn to drink from a big cup.

-Do... Feed your baby healthy foods. A lot of foods aren't very good for us because they have too much sugar. These unhealthy foods that tend to be high in sugar are also bad for baby teeth.

-Do... See a dentist regularly!

If you are having trouble locating dental services in your area, or of your child has dental problems that are affecting his/her eating, contact your WIC nutritionist.

Valerie Marcellus, Nutritionist